USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 4
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 4
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- Fred Knoell grew up on the old homestead, attended the district schools and made himself helpful to his parents at the same time serv- ing a practical apprenticeship in farming, so that when he started for himself in 1900 he was no stranger to the business of agriculture. Mr. Knoell has a well improved eighty acres, and along with the crop has made a specialty of Shorthorn cattle. His farm is six miles from Fremont, and is one of the most attractive places in Platte Township.
Mr. Knoell, like many of the younger generation, is an independent in politics. His church affiliation is Lutheran. He married Miss Alice Fairchild of Fremont, and they have one child now one year old.
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CHRISTIAN SASS. In Christian Sass, Dodge County has a prac- tical and zealous farmer, and one who, for a long period, has promoted the best interests of the community. For nearly thirty years he has been engaged in the cultivation of the soil in Cuming Township, and has not only developed a property that places him among the substantial agriculturists of his community, but at the same time has conducted his affairs in such an honorable manner as to gain him public confidence and esteem.
Mr. Sass was born March 19, 1868, on a farm in Dodge County, a son of John and Sophie (Kroeger) Sass. His parents, natives of Germany, immigrated to the United States in 1868 and made their way to Omaha, from which point they came overland by team to Dodge County and homesteaded on township 43, the same land as that which now forms the farm of their son. John Sass was a man of marked industry who worked faithfully in the development of a farm and the establishment of a home. He had few interests aside from his farm and his family and did not thrust himself forward for public prefer- ment. Yet at his death, which occurred in 1900, when he was sixty-two years of age, his community lost a good and reliable citizen and his many acquaintances a kind and considerate friend. His widow, who still survives him, has attained the phenomenal age of ninety-seven years. In their family there were four children, the first two being twins: Mary, who is the widow of George Mundlow, of Beemer, Nebraska; Sophia, who is the wife of John Ross of that community; August, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits near the town of West Point; and Christian. Mr. Sass voted the republican ticket, and belonged to the Lutheran Church, to the faith of which his worthy widow still adheres.
To the country schools of Dodge County Christian Sass is indebted for his educational training. He was reared in an agricultural atmos- phere and it was but natural that he should adopt farming as his life calling when he came to man's estate. He was twenty-three years of age when he embarked upon activities of his own, and from that time to the present has applied himself assiduously to the work of farming and raising stock. He has a good grade of cattle and raises all the stand- ard crops and is generally accounted an able and thoroughly informed farmer and a good judge of live stock. His property, lying in section 34, Cuming Township, has all the ear-marks of being under good manage- ment, and his reputation in business circles is that of an honorable and fair-dealing man.
Mr. Sass was married in 1891 to Miss Anna Meyer, who was born in Germany, and to this union there have born eight children: Alma, who is unmarried and resides with her parents; Adelia, the wife of Herman Horst, a Dodge County farmer; John, who is engaged in farming in Dodge County; and Harold, Norman, Wenna, Christian and Roland, at home. The family belongs to the Lutheran Church. Mr. Sass is an independent voter and has never sought office.
C. JULIAN KOEHNE is the efficient and popular business manager at Ames, Dodge County, for the Farmers' Union Co-operative Associa- tion, and his executive functions include the directing of a substantial business in the handling of grain, lumber and farm implements and machinery.
Mr. Koehne was born at Wentworth, South Dakota, and is a son of Frederick E. and Eunice (West) Koehne, both of whom were born and reared in the state of Wisconsin. The father became a farmer
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in South Dakota, where he remained until 1886, when he came with his family to Dodge County, Nebraska, where he purchased a farm and continued his successful activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower. He and his wife still reside in this county, where he is now living practically retired.
C. Julian Koehne accompanied his parents on their removal to Dodge County, where he gained his initial experience in connection with busi- ness affairs, his early education having been acquired in the public schools. For six years he was in the employ of the Nye-Snyder-Fowler Grain & Lumber Company, and at the expiration of this period he became associated with a leading lumber company in the state of Wash- ington. In 1918 he established his residence at Ames, Nebraska, and entered vigorously upon the executive duties of the responsible position of which he is now the incumbent, and he has shown marked progressive- ness and efficiency in the handling of the business of the Farmers' Union Co-operative Association at this point in Dodge County. It should be noted that after the removal of the family to Dodge County, Mr. Koehne availed himself of the advantages of the high school at Fremont, and that later he pursued a higher course of study in the University of Nebraska. He is a democrat in his political affiliation, and his wife is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
The year 1911 recorded the marriage of Mr. Koehne to Miss Delia Tompkins, who was born and reared in the State of Washington, and they have two children-Frederick D. and Charles Arthur.
WILLIAM M. STONE. Practically all his life William M. Stone has been a resident of Nebraska, being a representative of one of its early families. His life has been one of signal usefulness and honor and his memory links the later pioneer epoch inseparably with the present era of prosperity and achievement. As a representative citizen and enterprising business man, he has won the favorable opinion of all who know him and it is eminently consonant that a review of his life history be incorporated in a work of the character of the one in hand.
William M. Stone was born in Chatsworth, Illinois, on January 26, 1869, and he is the son of Addison and Catherine (Joyce) Stone. They were natives respectively of Olean, New York, and of the State of Maine. Leaving their respective states, they settled in Illinois soon after the close of the Civil war and there they met and were married. They remained in Illinois until 1872, when they came to Nebraska and made permanent settlement at Central City, where Addison Stone followed mercantile pursuits during the rest of his active business life. He was successful in his affairs and was held in high repute among his fellows. His death occurred in 1903 and he is survived by his widow, who still lives in Central City. They were members of the Roman Catholic Church and in his political views Mr. Stone was a democrat. To these parents were born four children, namely: William M., John, who lives with his mother at .Central City, is a carpenter; C. A., a physician, who has been very successful both professionally and in his financial affairs, lives in Hastings, Nebraska, and is the owner of sev- eral farms in Nebraska; James G. is also a successful physician and is located at Sutton, Nebraska.
William M. Stone attended the public schools of Central City, sup- plementing this training by attendance at St. Mary's College, at St. Mary's, Kansas, and in the Fremont Normal School. He then engaged in teaching school, following that profession for a number of
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years in Merrick County, Nebraska, and serving for one term as County Superintendent of Schools. He also gave some attention to farming pursuits and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Central City and Green- wood, Nebraska. In May, 1912, Mr. Stone came to Fremont and engaged in the insurance business, to which later he added the real estate business. He has been eminently successful in both of these lines and has handled a vast amount of farm and city property. He possesses an accurate knowledge of land values and his opinions are held in high esteem by his contemporaries. In January, 1920, Mr. Stone was chiefly instrumental in organizing the Nebraska Land & Emigration Company, of which he is the office manager. This company has taken over a large amount of irrigated land in the Arkansas River Valley, and it is their intention to sell this land in tracts of forty acres and upwards.
In 1895, Mr. Stone was married to Elizabeth C. Owens, who was born in Canton, Ohio, and to them have been born six children, namely : Clarence L., who is employed by the Nye-Schneider-Fowler Company ; Bernard R., who is a student in the Creighton Law School, at Omaha, Nebraska ; Mabel, a teacher in the public schools at Ames, Nebraska ; Zeta, Mary and Catherine are at home and attend the public schools.
The Stone family are members of the Catholic Church and in poli- tics Mr. Stone gives his support to the democratic party. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Columbus, the Royal Higlanders (in which he has passed through the chairs) and the Insurance Union of America. A man of high moral character, persistent industry and excellent busi- ness ability, he stands "four square to every wind that blows," and occupies an enviable position among his fellow citizens of Dodge County.
H. H. BOYD. The record of Nebraska's business men demonstrates that none of them who have risen to enviable positions have been thus successful unless they possessed more than average ability, and applied to their work a conscientious thoroughness which in the end justified the trouble and time expended. Competition is greater today than it was in the antebellum period when such a thing as a world's shortage of food- stuffs was unbelieveable, so that greater efforts have to be made to establish and build up desirable connections, and to maintain the excel- lence of a product which has gained favor with the public. One of the men of Dodge County who has for some years proven himself worthy of the trust reposed in him and measured up to the requirements of his undertaking is H. H. Boyd, miller and manager for the Hooper Milling Company, Incorporated, of Hooper.
H. H. Boyd was born in Randolph County, Illinois, in 1876, a son of Fillmore and Elizabeth (Warnock) Boyd, both of whom were natives of Illinois. Fillmore Boyd was a carpenter by trade, who died in Illinois during 1900, aged fifty-eight years. In his religious faith he worshipped in accordance with the creed of the United Presbyterians. A man of upright life and sober habits, he recognized the evils of intemperance and gave a strong support to the cause of prohibition.
Mr. Boyd came to Onawa, Iowa, from Illinois and there he learned the milling business, but when he reached Nebraska in 1904, he was first engaged in farming. After a brief period, however, he engaged with Teeter & Emerson of North Bend, Nebraska, and remained with that firm for eight years, leaving it for the mills at Fremont. There he was in the employ of the Brown Milling Company, Incorporated, for two years, and then came to Hooper as miller and manager for the mills at this point. C. H. Moeller is president of the company ; H. J.
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Krueger is vice president, and Peter Parker is secretary and treasurer. A general grain and flour business is carried on and the specialties of the company are the Gold Drop and White Rose flours.
In 1911 Mr. Boyd was united in marriage with Margaret Tedy, born in Nebraska, and they have two children, namely: Wendell, who is attending school ; and Marion, who is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Like his father, Mr. Boyd is an ardent supporter of the principles actuating the prohibition party, and no one is more gratified than he over the passage and ratifying of the Eighteenth Amendment for in it he sees a fruition of years of earnest and sincere effort on behalf of his associates and himself, and those who were pioneers in the movement at a time when any idea of a concerted national movement toward doing away with the liquor traffic was scouted at even by those who would have been glad to see such action taken. It is certain that the saloons would never have been abolished had it not been for the years of work by these self-same enthusiasts who, upheld by their conviction of right, labored on in the face of almost overwhelming opposition and discouragement, and their reward today is not a light one, nor can anyone criticise their satisfaction in the course of events.
ANDREW P. NELSON. In section 21, Maple Township, is situated a fine homestead farm whose general appearance clearly denotes the enterprise and progressiveness of its owner, Andrew P. Nelson, who is one of the representative agriculturists and stock-growers of Dodge County. He was born in Denmark in the year 1856, and is a son of James C. C. and Magdalena Nelson, who immigrated to America in 1863 and established the family home in Wisconsin, where the father found employment at farm work and began to make advancement toward the goal of independence and prosperity. About the year 1863 he came with his family to Dodge County, Nebraska, and took up a homestead in Maple Township, where he reclaimed and improved a good farm, upon which he continued to reside until 1883, when he retired and removed to Fremont, the county seat, where he passed the remainder of his life, his widow passing away in 1909 at a venerable age. He was a republican in politics, was a cummunicant of the Lutheran Church and his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their twelve children, eight attained to years of maturity. Morris is now serving as township supervisor and is one of the substantial farmers of Dodge County; Andrew P., of this review, is the next younger : Charles G. is a farmer near Fremont, this county ; James C. is a retired stockman, living at Grand Junction, Colorado, as is also Frederick; Martin resides in the home of his brother, Morris; Anna is ยท the wife of Charles C. Johnson, of Fremont, and Otto died in 1919.
Andrew P. Nelson was about eight years of age at the time of the family emigration from Denmark to the United States and his early education was acquired principally in the public schools of Nebraska. He was eight years old at the time of removal of the family to Nebraska and has since continued to be actively identified with the farming industry, in connection with which he has achieved substantial success. His homestead farm comprises 120 acres, the place is well improved and though he is living practically retired, he still remains on his farm and gives to the same his general and effective supervision. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of the republican party, has served as a mem- ber of the county board of supervisors, is affiliated with the Modern
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Woodmen of America and his wife is an active communicant of the Lutheran Church.
In 1887 Mr. Nelson wedded Miss Mary Hold, who was born in Ger- many and who is survived by two children-Alfred C., who has active charge of his father's farm and Margaret E., who is the wife of Matthew Apple, a farmer in Everett Township, Dodge County. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Nelson married Miss Jennie Hold, who was born in Germany and no children have been born of this union.
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DUNCAN LIVINGSTON, who lived at Fremont over twenty years, was undoubtedly one of the best known citizens of Dodge County. He was a railroad man, a merchant, and was honored with some of the important responsibilities of public affairs.
He was born in Toronto, Canada, March 19, 1862, of old Scotch lineage, his parents being natives of Canada. When he was a boy thirteen years old, his parents removed to South Carolina, where he was reared and educated. After reaching manhood he went to Western Canada, to the new province of Manitoba, and for several years followed farming at Binscarth. Coming to Nebraska in 1894, Duncan Livingston established his home at Fremont, and entered the service of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. He was in that service for sixteen years before he resigned, and for several years had held the position of night yardmaster. He became well known among the railroad men making their headquarters at Fremont. In 1910 he established himself in the grocery business, and assisted in building up the store of which his son, J. Stewart Livingston, is now proprietor.
A democrat in politics he never shirked the responsibilities of public office, and was serving his second term as county supervisor at the time of his death on November 29, 1915. He was first elected to this office to represent District No. 7 in Dodge County in 1912, and in 1914 was re-elected for a four-year term. He had more than three years to serve at the time of his death. His associates on the Board of Supervisors entertained the greatest respect for his judgment and gave full recogni- tion of his views in matters affecting the public interest.
He also stood high among Fremont business men, being a director in the Fremont Dealers' Association, and a member of the Commercial Club. He was a Presbyterian and for a number of years served as trustee of the church at Fremont. Fraternally he was affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Knights of Pythias. He was a citizen of kindly purpose, a friend to the poor and needy, and his life was such that the city and community felt a deep sense of loss at his taking off. He was survived by four sisters, one of whom is Mrs. William A. Carroll, of Fremont, by a brother, John Livingston, also of Fremont, and by his aged mother, who was with him at Fremont when he died.
In 1886 Duncan Livingston married Miss Annie Peddie of Bins- carth, Manitoba. She was born in Canada and continued to make her home at Fremont. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Livingston. Their son Robert lost his life while a brakeman on the Northwestern Railroad. Two other children died young, a son being burned to death. The two surviving children are J. Stewart Livingston, mentioned else- where as a Fremont business man, and Catherine, still in school.
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J. STEWART LIVINGSTON. One of the energetic and progressive citizens of Fremont, J. Stewart Livingston is a prosperous and reliable business man of Dodge County, and as a merchant has an extensively
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patronized grocery carrying all the staple and fancy groceries found in the best establishments of that kind anywhere.
Mr. Livingston, a son of the late Duncan Livingston, was born Angust 26, 1888, in Binscarth, Manitoba, and was six years of age when his parents located at Fremont. He grew up, acquired his educa- tion in the local schools, graduating from the Fremont High School in 1908. He soon afterward began his business career as clerk in a grocery store, and for two years gave full measure to his routine of work and acquired much valuable knowledge and experience at the same time. In 1910 with his father he opened a store at the corner of Main and Second streets, and since the death of his honored father has had entire control of the large and constantly increasing business.
Mr. Livingston is a democrat in politics but has never been active in political circles, his time and attention being devoted to his business affairs. Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and is affiliated with Fremont Lodge No. 514 of the Elks. He also belongs to the Country Club, is a member of the Retail Grocers' Association and the Nebraska State. Retail Grocers' Association. Mr. Livingston was married in 1920.
C. A. KEENE. Business interests of great importance are connected with the name of Keene in Dodge County, these including land, banking, real estate and insurance, C. A. Keene, manager of his father's large and valuable property, situated five miles from Fremont, on the Lincoln Highway, having built up a very substantial business reputation.
C. A. Keene was born at Fremont, Nebraska, in 1884, a son of Lewis McClain and Jennie (Marr) Keene, the latter of whom was born at Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, in 1850, and died in Nebraska in 1897. Lewis McClain Keene has long been prominent in the affairs of Dodge County. He was born in 1844, at Appleton, Maine, and was twenty-three years old when he came to Nebraska in 1867, with a determination to succeed in his undertakings, and with a cash capital of $50. During his first winter in Dodge County he operated a sorghum mill, and afterward for some years, taught school during the winters and worked on farms during the summers, sometimes accepting much more laborions employment. He has been heard to say when some case of willful idleness or lack of ambition in a young man has been brought to his attention, that if he had followed such a method in his youth, he would never have gained the confidence and respect of his solid, hardworking neighbors nor have reached his state of financial independence.
After homesteading, Mr. Keene lived alone on his claim until the land was his, and with this as a nucleus, acquired tract after tract until he became one of the heaviest landowners in Dodge County. He still owns 1,705 acres in addition to a large amount of fine residence property in Fremont. His extensive and highly cultivated farm lying five miles from Fremont, on the magnificent Lincoln Highway, has seven sets of farm buildings. He entered into partnership with L. D. Richards, first as Richards & Keene, later as Richards, Keene & Company, as a real estate, insurance and investment firm, which continues and is one of the stable business concerns of old Fremont. Mr. Keene became promi- nent also in other ways. For twenty-eight years he was president of the Fremont National Bank and is still chairman of its board of directors. In politics a zealous republican, he has been personally acquainted with many of the party leaders with whom he has often been called in council, and in earlier days served for a number of years as county clerk.
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Mr. Keene was married at Fremont to Miss Jennie Marr and two children were born to them, Lewis Marr and C. A., both of Fremont. Their mother was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church. Lewis M. Keene has reached high distinction in Masonry, is past grand com- mander of the Knights Templar of Nebraska and has attained the thirty- third degree. He is a life member of Fremont Lodge No. 514 Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks.
C. A. Keene was reared at Fremont and was graduated from the Fremont High School in 1901, and afterward spent three years in Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. Upon his return to Nebraska, well equipped for almost any line of endeavor but more closely interested in farming than any other vocation, he found plenty of responsibility awaiting him in the management of his father's large and valuable farm, which commands $500 an acre.
In June, 1909, Mr. Keene was united in marriage to Miss Hazel Rice, who was born at Ainsworth, Nebraska, and is a daughter of Frank S. Rice. Her grandfather was Brigadier-General Samuel Rice of Des Moines, Iowa, who was killed at the battle of Jenkins Ferry, during the Civil war. Mrs. Keene had one younger sister, who died in childhood. In 1910 Mr. Keene built a beautiful bungalow residence at 550 East Fourth Street, Fremont, that he and his wife have occupied since February 11, 1911, one of the most attractive of this class of cozy homes in the city. Mr. Keene also owns a farm of 160 acres in Dodge County.
Like his honored father Mr. Keene has long been identified with the Masonic fraternity. He has attained the thirty-second degree and at present is eminent commander of Mount Tabor Commandery No. 9, and belongs also to the Mystic Shrine. He belongs additionally to Fremont Lodge No. 514, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In political life he has always been a sturdy republican but public office has never appealed to him and just at present he finds his time fully engaged in the stupendous work of managing a large modern farm, looking after his father's other business matters, and paying attention to his own.
CAPT. MINER H. HINMAN. This gentleman was born April 5, 1836, in Wysox, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and died at Fremont, Nebraska, January 3, 1917. He was the son of a Presbyterian minister- Abner Curtis Hinman and wife. By occupation Miner H. Hinman was a carpenter. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Ninety-Day Men of the Pennsylvania State Militia, and was at Antietam and Gettysburg engagements. He then returned home and raised a company for the One Hundred and Seventy-First Pennsylvania Volunteers and was made its Captain. After the war ended he crossed the western plains with a caravan of ox teams, carrying supplies and engines, and landed at Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he took a contract for grading parts of the Union Pacific Railroad from Cheyenne to Ogden, Utah.
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