USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 35
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
' In 1899 Mr. Pratt was united in marriage to Miss Isetta D. Doty, who was born at Mansfield, Massachusetts, and they have one daughter, Lura Madaline, who graduated from the Fremont High School in June, 1919, and expects to continue her education in the Northwestern Uni- versity, Chicago. Mr. Pratt and his family are members of the Con- gregational Church. Although never unduly active in the political field and never willing to accept a public office, Mr. Pratt has continuously supported the candidates of the republican party. He belongs to the Elks and the Highlanders. The family spent a recent winter in California, making the journey in their high-powered, luxurious automobile. Vol. 11-16
698
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
JOHN WEIGLE has impressed himself upon the people of Hooper Township as a man of worth and stability, one whose experience, enter- prise and enlightened views will add to the community's prestige and whose agricultural abilities will serve to assist materially in an elevation of standards. Mr. Weigle was born in Illinois, March 7, 1857, a son of George Weigle, who was born in Germany. George Weigle, upon his arrival in the United States in 1852 or 1853, spent two years in New York State and a like period in Illinois, and then came to Nebraska, where he took up a homestead. He became a successful man and died, highly respected, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, Christine Kramer, is also deceased, having died when about seventy-eight years of age.
John Weigle was educated in the public schools and began his inde- pendent career at the age of twenty-six years, when he began renting property from his father. At the time of the elder man's death, he secured his first land, an inheritance of 160 acres, and so ably have his affairs been managed that at the present time he is the owner of 380 acres, all in a good state of cultivation, and devoted to general farming and the raising of live stock. Mr. Weigle came to Dodge County when about two years of age and has made a place for himself among the sub- stantial and reliable men of Hooper Township, where his property is located on section 11. He has excellent improvements and substantial buildings and keeps fully abreast of all the progressive movements made in his vocation. Mr. Weigle is a popular member of the local lodge of the Sons of Hermann. He is an independent voter, and he and Mrs. Weigle are consistent members of the Lutheran Church.
In 1883 Mr. Weigle married Augusta Dickman, who was born in Germany November 4, 1866, and came to the United States when six months old with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Weigle are the parents of seven children: Fredericka, Augusta, Amelia, Albert, Carrie, Minnie and Emma. Another child, Ella, died in infancy.
JACOB SANDERS. There are some very capable business men at Hooper, who are handling the local trade so successfully that outside custom is attracted to the city, with the result that this has come to be recognized as one of the centers of distribution for a wide territory. One of these men is Jacob Sanders, one of the leading grocers of Dodge County.
Jacob Sanders was born in Pennsylvania in 1859, a son of Emanuel and Barbara (Capp) Sanders, also born in Pennsylvania, where they passed their lives and died, he when sixty-eight years of age. By trade he was a millwright, and he was at one time also engaged in farming. The children born to him and his wife were as follows: William, who is surveyor of Dodge County, lives at Fremont : Jacob, whose name heads this review ; and John, who is connected with the grain and elevator busi- ness at Hooper.
Growing up in his native state, Jacob Sanders there attended the pub- lic schools and attained a working knowledge of the fundamentals of an education. In 1876 he came West to Nebraska, and for six years worked for P. S. Ryan on his farm near Fremont, and then, renting land, was engaged in farming for six years. Having saved up some money by that time, he was able to purchase a farm of his own one-half mile south of Hooper, and for the succeeding twelve years was engaged in general farming and stock raising. In 1900 he moved to Hooper and buying the stock of Hecker & Son, grocers, has since been engaged in the grocery business with very gratifying results.
699
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
In 1882 Mr. Sanders was united in marriage with Linda Hartung, born at Watertown, Wisconsin, a daughter of William Hartung, an early settler of Dodge County. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders have two children, namely : William E., who is manager of the Hooper Theater and the Hooper Bottling Works, was in the service during the late war, being trained at the officers' training camp at Camp Taylor ; and Cora, who is the wife of Fred Duty, a jeweler of Scribner, Nebraska. Mr. Sanders is a republican and was mayor of Hooper for fifteen years and was on the school board for six years. Both he and Mrs. Sanders belong to Grace Lutheran Church. He maintains fraternal relations with the Knights of Pythias. An enterprising business man, Mr. Sanders deserves his present prosperity and the confidence he inspires has been earned by his probity and the interest he has always taken in civic matters, both as an official and private citizen.
WILLIAM MIDDAUGH. Owning and occupying a well-managed and highly productive farm in Platte Township, William Middaugh is famili- arly known throughout this section of Dodge County as a prosperous and progressive agriculturist whose labors have been crowned with success. A son of the late J. C. Middaugh, he was born July 11, 1872, in Mercer County, Illinois, but the major portion of his life has been spent in Dodge County. ..
In 1873 J. C. Middaugh came with his family from Illinois to Nebraska, and settled on the broad prairies of Dodge County, being one of the earlier pioneers of the place. The neighbors were few and far between; the range was free, there being nothing fenced; and land sold anywhere from $3 to $5 an acre. Indians were numerous, and deer, which furnished much of the food of the early comers, and other wild beasts roamed at will through the country. Buying a partly improved farm, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, at the age of seventy-six, in his undertakings being quite successful, though in the early stages crops were destroyed by grasshoppers for three years and by drought, etc. Mr. Middaugh, a prominent member of the Seventh Day Advent Church, took great interest in that organization. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Braucht, survived him, and now lives with her only daughter.
Growing to manhood on the parental homestead, William Middaugh assisted in the almost herculean labor of improving a good farm, and as a boy, youth, and young man, endured the hardships and privations inci- dental to life in a new country. Laboring with unceasing toil, he has performed no inconsiderable part in helping to develop the resources of this section of the state, and since becoming a farmer on his own account has undergone many hardships. Persevering and energetic, Mr. Mid- daugh has courageously followed his chosen occupation, and now has a farm of 380 acres, on which 'he has placed improvements of value, ren- dering it one of the most desirable estates in the vicinity. In addition to general farming, Mr. Middaugh raises cattle, of no particular breed, however, and has built up an extensive and profitable business as a buyer and seller of stock, his dealings being quite remunerative.
Mr. Middaugh married, in 1899, at Fremont, Nebraska, Louise Boyd, who was born and educated in Champaign County, Illinois, a daughter of William Boyd, who came from Scotland to Illinois with his parents when but five years of age, and early in life settled in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Middaugh have one child, David Middaugh. Politically Mr. Mid- daugh is identified with the republican party in local affairs, but in county
700
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
and state affairs is independent, casting his vote for the men and measures that he deems best. True to the religion in which he was reared, he is a Seventh Day Adventist.
J. W. DELANEY. A worthy representative of the energetic, enterpris- ing and progressive men who are so ably conducting the agricultural interests of Dodge County, J. W. Delaney, through his own efforts and wise management, improved one of the more valuable and attractive farm- ing estates of Elkhorn Township. He was born, January 26, 1865, in Davenport, Iowa, a son of John and Julia Delaney.
John Delaney spent the first fourteen years of his life in Ireland. Immigrating then to the United States, he lived in Pennsylvania about fifteen years, being employed in the steel works. Moving from there to Davenport, Iowa, he bought land in that vicinity, and there engaged in farming eight years. About fifty-three years ago, soon after the close of the Civil war, he came with his family to Nebraska, and having taken up a homestead claim of eighty acres in Elkhorn Township, Dodge County, redeemed a farm from its original wildness, and was subse- quently engaged in mixed husbandry until his death, at the age of seventy- six years. His wife, who was born in Ireland, and came to the United States as a girl of fifteen summers, died when but thirty-nine years old. They were married in Philadelphia, and became the parents of nine chil- dren, three boys and six girls, and of these four of the girls have passed to the life beyond.
Brought up on the parental homestead, J. W. Delaney was educated in the rural schools of Dodge County, and in his tender years began to assist his father in the pioneer task of clearing and improving a home- stead. He was an ambitious youth, full of push and vim, and having determined when young to pursue the independent occupation of a tiller of the soil, he began his agricultural operations on rented land. At the end of six years, having been successful in his labors, Mr. Delaney pur- chased 237 acres of land near Fremont, Nebraska, and managed it for a while. He afterwards sold it at an advantage, and bought his present place of 160 acres, on which he has made all of the improvements, having erected his pleasant residence, and substantial barns and outbuildings, in addition having placed his land largely under tillage, rendering it exceed- ingly productive. Although Mr. Delaney had a hard time at first to make both ends meet, he labored steadily, conquering all difficulties that obstructed his pathway, and now stands in the front ranks of the pros- perous and progressive agriculturists of his community.
Mr. Delaney married, at Fremont, Nebraska, in 1901, Jessie Charles- ton, who was born and educated in Illinois, and died on the home farm, April 4, 1919. Three children were born of their union, namely: Mar- guerite, who lived but six years; a child that died at birth; and John Joseph. An active and influential member of the democratic party, Mr. Delaney has faithfully served in many important offices, having been a member of the town board six years; a road overseer several terms; and justice of the peace six years. Fraternally he belongs to Eagle Lodge. He is not a member of any religious organization, but Mrs. Delaney was a worthy member of the Christian Church.
H. GUS GUMPERT. The true measure of individual success is deter- mined by what one has accomplished, and, as taken in contradistinction to the old adage that a man is not without honor save in his own country, there is a particular interest attached to the career of H. Gus Gumpert,
Dan Y. Stephenx
701
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
since he is a native son of Dodge County, where practically his entire life has been passed, and he has so directed his ability and efforts as to gain recognition as one of the representative citizens of the community, being a worthy scion of one of our worthy pioneer families.
H. Gus Gumpert, one of the leading merchants of Fremont, was born in this city in 1872, and is a son of H. F. and Gretchen Gumpert, both of whom were natives of Germany. Their marriage occurred in Fremont in 1871 and here Mr. Gumpert established a barber shop, which he con- ducted during the greater part of his active business life, his shop being ยท the first of the kind in Fremont. Subsequently he engaged in the shoe business here for a number of years, but is now retired and living in Long Beach, California. He was a successful, self-made man and enjoyed the respect of all who knew him. Of the three children born to him and his wife, H. Gus is the only survivor. They were members of the Ger- man Lutheran Church and in politics Mr. Gumpert is a supporter of the democratic party.
H. Gus Gumpert received his educational training in the public schools, graduating from the Fremont High School. His first employment was with Nye, Schneider & Company, with whom he remained for five years. He then engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with his brother and father, some time later buying the interest of his brother in the busi- ness. The father retained his interest in the shoe business until 1914, when he sold that to his son, who has since been sole owner of the busi- ness. Thus H. Gus Gumpert has been continuously engaged in the mer- cantile business here since 1898 and has been a witness of and a participant in the splendid growth which has characterized this section during the intervening years. At one time he gave serious attention to the study of law under the direction of Judge Munger, and, though he did not fol- low that profession, his studies were of advantage to him in his future business career. He now owns one of the largest and most complete department stores in this section of the state and enjoys a large and constantly growing trade. In 1915 he built a large business block, three stories high and a half block in extent, at the corner of Main Street and Fifth Avenue, and here he has a well-stocked store, carrying a large line of goods in each department. Courteous treatment, prompt service and right prices have been the elements which have entered into his success and he enjoys distinctive prestige among his fellow merchants.
In 1898 Mr. Gumpert was married to Dot Glenn, who was born in Glencoe, Nebraska, the daughter of James Glenn, a merchant and the postmaster at Glencoe, which town was named in his honor. To Mr. and Mrs. Gumpert has been born a daughter, Zoe, who graduated from the Fremont High School in 1917 and remains at home. Mrs. Gumpert and daughter Zoe are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Gumpert devotes himself to his business and has achieved a dis- tinctive success. He is progressive and up-to-date in his ideas and stands always for the best things in the community life. Because of his success and high personal character he enjoys the respect of all who know him.
DAN VORHEES STEPHENS was named for Senator Dan Vorhees of Indiana and from this incident one naturally concludes he must have been born a democrat, and in the heyday of Vorhees' career. He was born November 4, 1868, among the sycamores on Salt Creek, Indiana, instead of on the Wabash, as was the great statesman for whom he was named.
702
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
He was reared a Baptist in religion and a democrat in politics. He received his early education in the common schools and at Valparaiso College. He came to Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska, in 1887, and taught school for two and a half years and served four years as county superintendent of schools. He organized the publishing house of Ham- mond & Stephens Company in 1894 and began manufacturing and pub- lishing for county and city superintendents of schools. He is president of the company and principal owner of the business which now extends over many states.
In 1904 he was elected a delegate to the national democratic conven -. tion at St. Louis. In 1908 he was elected delegate at large and chairman of the delegation to the democratic national convention at Denver when Bryan was nominated for president.
In 1911 he was elected to Congress from the third congressional district to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Congressman J. P. Latta. He was re-elected in 1912, 1914 and 1916, serving until March, 1919, . throughout the dramatic period of the World war. He took an active part in the drafting and passage of all the constructive legislation that made the winning of the war possible, such as the federal reserve act, the draft law, the farm loan act, etc. He supported the administration of President Wilson from the begining to the end of the war without exception.
In 1920 he was again chosen delegate at large to the national demo- cratic convention which met in San Francisco.
Mr. Stephens throughout his public service remained essentially a business man, maintaining all his business interests in Nebraska. At the conclusion of his term in Congress he organized the Fremont Joint Stock Land Bank under the farm loan act of 1916 with a capital of $300,000. Later he purchased control of the Fremont State Bank and consolidated the management of the Land Bank, State Bank and the Nebraska Building and Loan Association under one head with himself as president of the allied banks. Mr. Stephens has been active in pro- moting the public welfare as well as being a success in attending to his own business.
In 1890 Mr. Stephens was married to Hannah Boe, daughter of Knute Boe, an old resident of Dodge County. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens had two children, namely: Edith, now deceased, and Estella, who is married to Benjamin Harrison of Omaha.
HARLAND L. WOLCOTT. This family name is practically synonymous with good farming, good citizenship and individual prosperity in Dodge County, where it has been represented since earliest pioneer times. For a long period of years the Wolcotts have been farmers in Hooper Town- ship, where H. L. Wolcott owns one of the best improved places in that locality in section 25.
Harland L. Wolcott was born in Ohio August 17, 1864, and was about two years of age when he came to Dodge County. His father, G. W. Wolcott, had first located in Dodge County in the year 1856, when the organization of Nebraska Territory was still being discussed and when there was a mere fringe of settlement along the western bank of the Missouri River. G. W. Wolcott was a native of Ohio and drove to Nebraska with a team. He squatted near Fremont, the land subse- quently becoming known as Knoell's place. He remained there keeping bachelor's quarters for a year in a sod house. Leaving Nebraska, he went to the northwest, to Washington, riding horseback all the way.
703
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
After returning east he married Betsey Jane Baker and in 1866 again came to Nebraska and homesteaded 160 acres near Winslow. Here he went through the grasshopper scourge, many successive droughts, experi- encing scarcity of money and low markets for everything the land could raise, but before his death which occurred in 1907 he was rewarded by independent circumstances and was the owner of 480 acres. His widow is still living, making her home with her only son and child, Harland L. Wolcott.
Harland L. Wolcott grew up on his father's farm, made good use of such advantages as the district schools afforded, became an able assistant to his father and for many years has carried on the homestead. In fact, he has been doing for himself for a quarter of a century and with the resources of 480 acres at his command has been able to carry on general farming and stock raising on a somewhat extensive scale.
He has also shared the public spirit of his father in community rela- tionships, particularly in behalf of good schools. His father became treasurer of the local School Board when it was first organized, and Harland L. succeeded him in that office and has continued to serve for thirteen years. In politics his vote is cast as a stanch republican.
In 1896 Mr. Wolcott married Eunice Bullock. Their three children, all at home, are Grace, Harland and George.
WILLIAM HENNEMAN. One of the farms longest occupied in Hooper Township of Dodge County is that of William Henneman, who was born there and whose father acquired this tract as a homestead in the very early period of settlement. For over half a century the Henne- mans have cultivated crops in section 7 of Hooper Township, and in every sense of the word they have been substantial citizens, good neigh- bors and upholders of the best community spirit.
William Henneman was born February 15, 1882. His father, Christie Henneman, was born in Germany and came to this country in 1858. Possessing little capital, he had the courage and resourcefulness to strive to make a home in a new country, and pre-empted land in Dodge County and in spite of many struggles and adversities lived to see his efforts well rewarded. He died at the age of eighty years. Of his two sons and five daughters William is the youngest.
William Henneman acquired a good education in the local schools and as a youth acquired a thorough training as a farmer, a training that has stood him in good stead. In 1907 he rented land from his father and he now owns 200 acres, including the old homestead. The father left the farm well improved, and the son has done much to increase its productiveness and general value.
In 1911 Mr. Henneman married Lulu Panning, who was born in Dodge County, daughter of Fred Panning, one of the early settlers. They have one child, Lavier. Mr. Henneman is an independent voter and is a member of the Lutheran Church.
ERNEST SCHMIDT. With a large farm stocked with cattle, sheep and hogs, with all needed equipment, Ernest Schmidt is an adequate pic- ture of a complete and successful Nebraska farmer, and is one of the men relied upon to fill up the quota of agricultural production in Dodge and Washington counties.
Mr. Schmidt whose fine farm is in section 31 of Elkhorn Township, was born in Dodge County June 24, 1880. Many old friends recall his father, Ernest Schmidt, Sr., one of the pioneers of Nebraska, who for
704
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
several years as a soldier in the regular army participated in the thrill- ing campaigns for the redemption of the great west.
Ernest Schmidt, Sr., came to the United States from Germany in 1849, being one of those lovers of freedom who were expelled from their native land about that time. He landed at New Orleans and in 1853 joined the regular United States army. He was in service five years, and was on duty at many points in the great west. He was at Salt Lake City at the time of the great Mormon uprising. When he left the army he started for Colorado with a pony and cart, and for a time had the experi- ences of some of the famous mining camps of the state. From Colorado he came to Nebraska and for several years was engaged in the overland transportation business, operating ox teams from eastern Nebraska to Denver. He made four trips of this kind to Denver and he also freighted goods to Grand Island and Fort Kearney. As a pioneer of Dodge County, he bought 160 acres about 1862, and spent the rest of his life in the quiet and industrious pursuit of agriculture. He left his farm well improved and had lived in comfort for many years before his death at the age of eighty-five. In Dodge County he married Augusta Miller, member of another family of early settlers in this country, who died the same year her husband did at the age of sixty-nine. They were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Ernest Schmidt, Jr., was the only son in a family of seven children. He grew up on his father's farm of 240 acres, acquired an education in the common schools, and for the past twenty years has been devoting all his time and energies to general farming and the feeding of cattle, hogs and sheep. He now has 240 acres, all well improved, and with a com- plete equipment of barns, while much of the land is tiled.
In 1908 Mr. Schmidt married Anna Baltz. Their three children, all at home, are Erna, Ernest R. and Alberta May. Mr. Schmidt is an independent voter in politics, and is a member of the Presbyterian faith.
GUSTAVUS S. STIVER. In proportion to its population Dodge County has as great a number of substantial and intelligent agriculturists as any county of its size in Nebraska, and among this number is Gustavus S. Stiver, the owner of a farm of finely cultivated land, which, until within a year or two ago, he operated with such judgment as to have made him, financially, a successful and substantial man.
Mr. Stiver was born in Pennsylvania in 1856, a son of John and Salome Stiver, natives of the Keystone State, who passed their lives there on property of their own, devoting their careers to agricultural work, and being people who were highly esteemed and respected in their community. Mrs. Stiver was a member of the Lutheran Church, while her husband belonged to the Reformed faith. He was a republican in his political affiliation, and served creditably at various times as member of the Board of School Directors of his township and as overseer of roads. Of their children, two are living, Henry, who is carrying on oper- ations on his brother's farm, and Gustavus S.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.