USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 31
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 31
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Having laid a substantial foundation for his future education in the public schools, W. F. Hemphill entered the dental department of Creigh- ton University, in Omaha, Nebraska, and was there graduated with the class of 1916. Locating in Blair soon after his graduation, Doctor Hemphill has established a large and rapidly increasing practice, and won for himself an assured position in the professional, business and social circles of the city.
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In March, 1917, Doctor Hemphill was united in marriage with Lola Taylor, a native of Beatrice, Nebraska, and they have one child, Robert. The doctor is independent in political matters; a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Orders of Masons; and both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ANDREW FROST. Actively and successfully engaged in the prosecu- tion of a calling upon which the health, wealth and prosperity of our great nation is in a large measure dependent, Andrew Frost holds a noteworthy position among the foremost agriculturists of Dodge County, and is prominent in the public affairs not only of Uehling, his home town, but of his home district, which he now represents in the State Legislature. A son of Mats Frost, he was born, January 25, 1862, in Sweden, the abiding place of his ancestors for many generations.
Born and educated in Sweden, Mats Frost lived in his native land several years after his marriage. His prospects for earning enough to support his young and growing family not being very bright, he and his wife, Carrie, accompanied by their children, immigrated to the United States in 1865. Locating in Burt County, Nebraska, he ·homesteaded, and lived there eighteen months. The results of his labors being unsat- isfactory, he moved to Omaha, and for five years worked in the shops of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. Resuming his former occupa- tion, he bought land in Dodge County, just west of the present site of Uehling, and having improved a farm, both he and his wife spent the remainder or their days thereon, the wife passing away when seventy-six years old, while he attained the venerable age of ninety-four years. Com- ing to this state while it was still in its primeval condition, Indians being numerous, though not unfriendly, he lived to see the country well settled and himself the owner of a good farm well and substantially improved. To him and his wife five children were born, Andrew having been the third child in order of birth.
Scarce three years of age when he came with his parents to this country, Andrew Frost was reared in Nebraska, and while young was initiated into the mysteries of agriculture, obtaining a practical knowledge of its various branches. Becoming an agriculturist from choice, he has since, with the exception of two years spent in Canada, carried on gen- eral farming and stock raising in Nebraska, and in his undertaking have met with well deserved success. A stanch republican in politics, Mr. Frost has been active and influential in the public affairs of Uehling, having served on the town board, the school board, and as justice of the peace. In January, 1919, he had the honor of being elected to the State Legislature, where he is performing the duties devolving upon him ably and faithfully, being ever mindful of the interests, not only of his constituents, but of town, county and state.
. Mr. Frost married, March 17, 1888, Mary Anderson, born July 16, 1869, in Dodge County Nebraska, a daughter of P. Anderson, a retired farmer, now living in Uehling, and to them five children have been born, namely : Hubert, an accountant in Duluth, Minnesota, served for eight months of the World war as a chemist; Irving, of Omaha, also an accountant, served as an electrician in the United States Army during the World war; Carroll, who enlisted in the Coast Artillery during that war, is now taking a course in art and science at the University of Nebraska; Emil, who enlisted in the Coast Artillery during the late war, is now at home; and Lewis, also at home.
Mrs. Frost's father, P. Anderson, was born in Sweden March 16, 1843, and at the age of six years was left fatherless. He was brought
Andrew Frost
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up and educated in his native land. In 1868, accompanied by his sister and wife, whose maiden name was Carrie Erickson, he immigrated to the United States. With but $100 to his name, he made his way directly to Nebraska, coming by rail to Omaha, where he located. He home- steaded, taking up eighty acres of land, and while improving a farm suffered all the privations and hardships of pioneer life. Markets were few and far between, and he was forced to go to the Missouri River for wood, a long day's trip. Succeeding in his labors, he subsequently added to the extent of his farm by purchasing 160 acres more land, and continued his agricultural labors until 1908. Retiring from active work in that year, Mr. Anderson moved to Uehling, where he has a most pleasant and attractive home. He is a republican and for several years has been a road overseer.
Eight children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ander- son, namely : John Albert, John Frederic and Adolph, all deceased ; Mary Victoria, wife of Andrew Frost, of this sketch; Maudie, wife of Matts Anderson, engaged in farming in Dodge County ; Anna Josephine West- lin, a widow; Esther Margaretta, wife of August Westlin; and Lydia Caroline, wife of George Monnich.
JOHN B. VAN PATTEN. A prominent and prosperous farmer and stockman of Dodge County, John B. Van Patten, of Fremont, has achieved marked success in his agricultural labors, and as a man of sound judgment and good business ability has acquired property of value, owning not only rich farming lands, but several pieces of city property, all of which are paying investments. He was born, December 14, 1866, in Cayuga County, New York, which was also the birthplace of his par- ents, John A. and Lucinda (Adams) Van Patten. His grandfather, Peter Van Patten, a native of Albany County, New York, was one of the early settlers of Cayuga County.
John A. Van Patten was a life-long resident of his native county, where he was engaged in tilling the soil. A man of integrity and worth, he won the respect of the community in which he resided. He was a republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To him and his good wife four children were born, as follows: Emma, wife of John Ingersoll, a retired farmer of Cayuga County, New York ; John B .; George, engaged in farming in Cayuga County ; and Nettie M., wife of Charles Wilda, of New York, an extensive land owner, and a successful produce dealer.
Acquiring his early education in the rural schools of the Empire State, John B. Van Patten spent his early life on the home farm, where he obtained an excellent knowledge of the rudiments of agriculture. In 1886, ere attaining his majority, he decided to try life for himself in a newer country. Making his way to Dodge County, Nebraska, he secured a position with W. H. Turner and brother, noted stockmen, and for fourteen years was employed in driving cattle and sheep across the plains. Forming then a partnership with Turner Brothers, Mr. Van Patten assumed the entire charge of the extensive business and in its management displayed wisdom and ability. When Mr. Van Patten arrived in Dodge County he had but fifteen dollars to his credit, but he labored faithfully, was wise in his savings, and prudent in his expend- itures, and soon found himself in comfortable circumstances, with plenty of work ahead of him, and no financial troubles. Using sound judgment in his investments, Mr. Van Patten, in partnership with Ira Williams, owns a magnificent farm near Fremont, and is managing it most suc-
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cessfully. He also owns city property in Fremont, which he has always claimed as home, his residence at 450 North Bell Street being one of the most attractive in the community.
Mr. Van Patten married, in 1893, Hannah M. Carruthers, who was born at White Haven, England, and came to the United States about thirty-five years ago with her parents. Her father has passed to the life beyond, but her mother is living, being now a resident of California. Mr. Van Patten is a steadfast republican in politics, and Mrs. Van Patten is a member of the Episcopal Church, having never departed from the faith in which she was reared. They have no children, but are always interested in advancing the welfare of the younger generation.
CHARLES HRABAK. Although born on foreign soil, Charles Hrabak, a well known merchant of Dodge, was brought up and educated in this country, and in the days of his youth imbibed the respect for American institutions, and the knowledge and patriotic spirit, that has made him an honored and valued citizen of the United States. A native of Europe, he was born, December 28, 1858, in Bohemia, where he lived as a child.
Crossing the ocean with his parents in 1867, Mr. Hrabak settled with them in Zama County, Iowa, on August 23d, of that year, and during the ten years he lived there completed his early education, and also obtained a good knowledge of the various branches of agriculture. Migrating to Kansas about 1879, he was there engaged in agricultural pursuits for five years, and the following three years was similarly employed in Scribner, Dodge County, Nebraska. On August 23, 1886, Mr. Hrabak established a store in Dodge, becoming the pioneer merchant of the town. Having very limited means at his command, he labored industriously to get a start, among other labors having cut corn in the fields to get sufficient money to erect a building for his stock of mer- chandise. He succeeded well in his efforts, winning a substantial patron- age, but subsequently sold his business, and is now manager for the Ryan Company, who have an extensive trade in general merchandise.
Mr. Hrabak married, November 5, 1879, Josephine Hrutka, and of their union nine children have been born, namely: Julia, Charles, William, Arthur, Edna, Edward, Carrie, Mabel, and Howard. Arthur died when two years old, Edna when six months old, Edward at the age of one year, and Charles' died at the age of thirty-six, leaving a wife and three children. The other children are all married and success- ful. Mr. Hrabak is a sound republican in politics, and has the distinction of having been a member of the first town board, and of the first school board of Dodge. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and of the Woodmen of the World. In religion both Mr. and Mrs. Hrabak are of the Catholic faith.
G. A. SWEET. An extensive and well-to-do agriculturist of Dodge County, G. A. Sweet is actively and prosperously engaged in his inde- pendent occupation on one of the most attractive and desirable farms in Elkhorn Township. Located on section 36, it comprises 360 acres of fertile land, and, with its comfortable set of buildings, invariably attracts attention, indicating to the observer the judicious manner in which the owner has employed his time and means. A son of the late Perry Sweet, he was born, December 7, 1874, in St. Joseph, Missouri, and there obtained his elementary education.
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Born in Illinois, Perry Sweet grew to man's estate in his native county, being variously employed. Subsequently migrating to Missouri, he lived for a time in St. Joseph, from there coming with his wife and children, in 1889, to Nebraska. Locating in Dodge County, near Fre- mont, he was there engaged in general farming until his death, when but fifty-four years of age. His widow, Nellie Sweet, survived him, and now makes her home with one of her sons.
A lad of fifteen years when he came with his parents to Nebraska, in 1889, G. A. Sweet received an excellent training in the art and science of agriculture while yet a youth, and found the occupation very con- genial to his tastes. Beginning farming on his own account in 1908, Mr. Sweet has made wise use of every opportunity to improve his methods, and advance his interests, as his means increased adding to his property from time to time. He has 360 acres of well improved land in his home farm, and also owns 800 acres of land in Colorado. He is carrying on general farming with very satisfactory results, using the most approved up-to-date methods, and in addition to tilling his land is feeding cattle and hogs quite extensively, it being considered a profita- ble branch of agriculture in this state.
Mr. Sweet married, in 1910, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, Miss Phoebe Johnson, and they have one child, Gretchen Sweet. A straightforward republican, Mr. Sweet has served as a member of the local school board for eight years. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
CHARLES MCKENNAN. Widely known as a prosperous agriculturist, Charles McKennan is numbered among the citizens of good standing and high repute of Dodge County, of which he is an honored pioneer, his farm being located in Elkhorn Township. He was born, in 1858, in New York State, where his parents, John and Elizabeth McKennan, were life-long residents. .
Born, bred and educated in the Empire State, Charles McKennan remained an inmate of the parental household until attaining his majority. In 1879, following the advice of Horace Greeley, who said "Go West, young man," he came to Nebraska, locating in Dodge County in pioneer days, when the now flourishing City of Fremont was a mere hamlet, with no indication of its present prosperity. The good roads hereabout were then but pathways, comparatively; Indians were numerous; and wild game of all kinds was abundant, furnishing an ample supply of food for the family larder. Mr. McKennan bought land at $5 an acre soon after his arrival, but deciding it was not worth the money relin- quished it. He afterwards bought land in section 26, Elkhorn Town- ship, and by persevering industry and good management has a finely improved estate, well adapted for his occupation of a general farmer.
Mr. McKennan married, in 1882, in Dodge County, Martha Close, a daughter of John A. and Nancy Close, neither of whom are living. Mr. Close came from Wisconsin to Nebraska at a very early period of ' its settlement, driving the entire distance two ox teams and one cow team, being five weeks in making the long and wearisome journey. He took up a tract of land from the Government, near the present site of Arlington, which had not then won a place on the map, on what was known as Bell Creek, and in a few years had improved a homestead of 160 acres. He served as a soldier in the Civil war, and was quite active in public affairs, having served as school director, and as township assessor.
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He died on the homestead at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife lived to be seventy-four years old. Both were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. McKennan have six chil- dren, namely : Bessie, living in Fremont ; Frank M., of Reno, Nevada ; Rollo, living in Wyoming; Edith Bricker; Gertrude, of Memphis, Nebraska; and John, living at home. True to the faith in which they were reared, Mr. and Mrs. McKennan are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN SAMPSON. An honored representative of the early pioneers of Dodge County, John Sampson, of Swaburg, Logan Township, is a true type of the energetic and enterprising men who have actively assisted in the development of this fertile and productive region, and by his sagacity and keen foresight has at the same time been enabled to accumulate a comfortable share of this world's wealth. A native of Sweden, he was born April 17, 1842, being one of a family of ten children born to his parents, Samuel and Sarah Sampson.
The second child, and eldest son, of the parental household, John Sampson came to the United States in early life, and on June 5, 1868, located in Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska, where he lived and labored for a year. In 1869 he homesteaded a part of his present farm, and when he paid for his land had just 50 cents left to his credit. At the end of six months, having assumed possession of the dugout, his first home in the township, he hired fifteen acres of his land cleared, paying $5 an acre for the work. Finding ready money very scarce, Mr. Sampson secured a job on the railroad, and making his headquarters in Fremont spent one night each month on his claim in order to hold it, walking the entire distance of twenty-five miles, and as there was no bridge across the Elkhorn, waded the river. While improving his home- stead, Mr. Sampson suffered all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, in fact meeting with more trouble than many had to endure as, in 1873, he had the misfortune to be completely burned out by a prairie fire, obliging him to start all over again. Among the many cherished treasures brought with him from his old home in Sweden, which he lost in this fire, was his large Swedish Bible. When he began farming for himself, Mr. Sampson had but one horse, and few equip- ments, the tractors and farm machinery of the present day having been not only unknown, but undreamed of.
Mr. Sampson was a man of push and energy, not easily discouraged. and it is not at all surprising to learn that he became very successful in his career, and having purchased other land has now a well cultivated and highly improved farm of 200 acres, with fine and conveniently arranged buildings, a productive orchard, and broad, fertile and pro- ductive fields, his estate being a credit to him, and an ornament to the community. Mr. Sampson himself does but little active labor now, having given up all the responsibilities of farm ownership and manage- ment to his two sons. He is a stanch republican in politics, and a valued member of the Lutheran Church at Swaburg, which he helped to organize and build, hauling material across the Missouri River on the ice in 1871. He is now one of the few remaining charter members of this church.
Mr. Sampson married, February 25, 1871, Marie Monson, who was born in Sweden in 1853, being the youngest daughter of John and Elna Monson, also natives of Sweden. Mrs. Sampson died August 9, 1895, leaving eight children out of the family of ten children that blessed their
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union. The children are: Alice, now Mrs. Fred Raber, of Winfred, South Dakota ; Ingrid, Victor E., Anna, Emma, Hjalmer N., Esther and Luella.
HENRY M. KIDDER. A survey of this publication will show that within its pages is to be found individual recognition of the greater number of the representative members of the bar of Dodge County, and a place of due relative precedence is consistently to be accorded to Mr. Kidder, who has been a resident of Nebraska since his boyhood and who has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Fremont, judicial center of Dodge County, since 1912, prior to which year he had gained secure vantage-place as one of the leading members of the bar of Custer County.
Mr. Kidder was born in Barry County, Michigan, February 11, 1859, and in that state he acquired his rudimentary education. He was eleven years of age when he accompanied his parents to Nebraska, in 1870, and his father secured a homestead near Norfolk, Madison County, where he developed a productive farm and became one of the substantial citizens of the county. Henry M. Kidder continued his studies in the public schools of that county, besides which he attended for three years a well ordered German school. At Norfolk he initiated the study of law in the office of the firm of Wigton & Whitham, and under such able preceptorship he made substantial progress in his assimilation of the involved science of jurisprudence. He was admitted to the bar June 7, 1886, upon examination before Judge Tiffany, who was then presiding on the bench of the District Court, and in the same year he became one of the early members of the bar of Mason City, Custer County, where he remained nine years and developed a prosperous law business. At the expiration of this period he removed to Woodbine, Harrison County, Iowa, but he continued in practice in the Hawkeye State only one year. He then returned to Mason City, Custer County, but fifteen months later, on the 1st of June, 1897, he established his residence at Scribner, Dodge County, where he showed his versatility by entering the profession of journalism, as editor and publisher of the Scribner Rustler, which he conducted very successfully for twelve years, the paper having become under his management an effective exponent of community interests, as well as a leader in popular sentiment and action relative to political affairs and general public interests in the county. In August, 1912, Mr. Kidder removed to Fremont, the county seat, where he opened an office and continued the practice of law. His professional ability has never lacked for popular appreciation, and his success has been pro- nounced, the while his professional activities have involved his appear- ance in the courts of many Nebraska counties, including Custer, Sher- man, Greeley, Hall, Buffalo, Dawson, Dawes, Sheridan, Antelope, Thurs- ton, Pierce, Knox, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Washington, Douglas, Dodge, Colfax, Platte, Boone, Howard, Lancaster, Clay, Red Willow, Chase and Cheyenne, as well as in Beadle, Gregory and Red Willow counties, South Dakota. He has also presented a large number of cases before the Supreme Court of Nebraska. He has appeared also before the Supreme Court of Kansas, and in the courts of Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri, as well as the Superior Court of that state. It is thus evident that his law business has been of broad scope and impor- tance and that he ha's high standing at the bar. In 1920 he was the republican candidate for judge of the District Court of the Sixth District of Nebraska, his opposing candidates being Judge F. W. Button, at that
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time presiding on the bench of this district, A. M. Post, and John C. Martin. He has been influential in republican councils and campaign work, and while a resident of Custer County he served for a time as city clerk of Mason City, his incumbency of this position having con- tinued during the major part of his residence here. While residing at Scribner, Dodge County, he assisted in the organization of the Farmers Grain & Stock Company, of which he was a director for some time, and for which he secured, from the railroad company, the site for the company's grain elevator. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and he has passed various official chairs in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, including the Encampment, as well as in the Modern Woodmen of America, besides which he is affiliated also with the Sons of Hermann.
January 5, 1887, recorded the marriage of Mr. Kidder to Miss Nora R. Rumery, who was born in Jones County, Iowa, a daughter of Sewell C. and Hannah (Cooper) Rumery, who came to Nebraska in 1894 and passed the closing years of their lives at Mason City, Custer County. the father having devoted the greater part of his active career to agricultural enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. Kidder have two children: Olive P. became the wife of Peter C. Conroy but she now resides at the parental home in Fremont, where she is employed by the Hammond- Stevens Company : Minnie M. is the wife. of Soren C. Hansen, of Fremont.
Reverting to the parents of Mr. Kidder, it is to be stated that he is a son of Rev. James W. and Mary Ann (Stevens) Kidder, the former a native of Enosburg, Vermont, and the latter of East Machias, Maine, in which latter state their marriage was solemnized. From the Pine Tree State they removed to Ohio, where they remained one year. They then removed to Michigan, where for eleven years he was pastor of the Congregational Church at Middleville. In 1870 he came with his family to Nebraska, and assumed a pastorate at Norfolk, as the pioneer English- speaking clergyman of that place. There he continued his ministerial labors nine years, besides preaching at several other places in that section of the state. He finally removed with his family to the farm which he had secured near Norfolk, but after his retirement he returned to that now thriving little city, where he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives, secure in the affectionate regard of all who knew them. They became the parents of four children: Hattie is the wife of Andrew U. McGinnis, of Norfolk ; Mary L. is the widow of Peter C. Stewart, who died in South Africa, and she now resides at Northfield, Minnesota ; Miss Laura A. resides at Norfolk, Nebraska, but was for seventeen years an efficient and popular teacher in the public schools of Fremont ; and Henry M., of this review, was the second in order of birth of the four children.
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