USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 46
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 46
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JOHN H. KNOWLES. Possessing in a large measure the energy, ability and sound judgment that invariably commands success, John H. Knowles was widely known as the longest established shoe dealer in
Dr. andrew Harvey
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Fremont. He is held in high esteem in business, political and social circles. A son of the late James Knowles, he was born in 1865 in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, coming on the paternal side of Irish ancestry.
Born in Ireland, James Knowles was brought up in the northern part of the Emerald Isle, and as a young man immigrated to the United States. He lived first in Ohio, from there moving to Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming a number of years, and eventually going to Iowa, where he spent the later days of his life. He served for two or three years as a soldier in the Civil war and was at one time taken pris- oner, but was fortunate enough to escape from his place of confinement. He was a republican in politics ; a member of the Presbyterian Church and belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic. He married, in Ohio, Eliza Lowery, a native of this country, and of their eight children five are living, as follows: John H., of whom we write; William, a Kansas farmer ; J. D., engaged in farming in Clarinda, Iowa; Mary, wife of L. B. Turner of Kansas, a farmer; and Elizabeth, wife of John M. Dodge, who is engaged in mercantile pursuits in the State of Washington.
Having completed the course of study in Carroll College, Waukesha, Wisconsin, John H. Knowles first turned his attention to agriculture, and later clerked for awhile in a retail store. Changing his occupation, he subsequently traveled fourteen years for a wholesale shoe house, acquiring while thus employed a pretty good knowledge of the shoe business. In the meantime, in 1898, Mr. Knowles and his brother Robert opened a shoe store in Fremont, the brother assuming charge of the store, while Mr. Knowles continued traveling. Robert Knowles died in 1911, and John Knowles had entire charge of the estab- lishment until September, 1920, when he sold the store and is now a traveling salesman. Mr. Knowles began business for himself with very limited means, and by strict attention to the details of his business met with unquestioned success in his undertakings.
Mr. Knowles married, in 1896, Margaret Turner, who was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, a daughter of Robert Turner, a lifelong farmer of Wisconsin. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Knowles two children have been born, namely : Isabel, who attended the University of Wooster, in Wooster, Ohio, and now teaching in the high school in Fremont ; and Elizabeth, a student in the Fremont High School. Independent in poli- tics, supporting the best men and measures, Mr. Knowles has served in the City Council, and in 1907 and 1908 represented his district in the State Legislature. Fraternally he is a member of Fremont Lodge No. 514, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Modern Woodmen of America. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Knowles are members of the Presbyterian Church.
ANDREW HARVEY, M. D. As far back as there is any definite record of the human race there have been men who devoted their lives to the healing of disease, but it is only within practically recent times that the physician has exerted himself with equally beneficent results in the prevention of disease by the introduction of practical sanitary regula- tions and the application of discoveries relative to the cause of maladies once believed incurable. With the expansion in the field of usefulness has come to the members of the medical profession added esteem and honor, and those belonging to it are easily ranked among the best citi- zens of the community in which their work is performed. Dodge County, as one of the most progressive sections of Nebraska has some of the eminently representative physicians and surgeons of the state, and one of them is Dr. Andrew Harvey of Fremont.
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Doctor Harvey was born in Dodge County, Nebraska, on October 26, 1884, a son of Andrew and Margaret ( Ritchie) Harvey. The father was born in Ayr, Scotland, and the mother in Dundee, Scotland. About 1871 he came to the United States and located in Nebraska, and the mother came to the state some time later, and they were here married. Both survive and are making their home in North Bend, Nebraska, where for a number of years the father was a farmer and engaged in raising fruit. He and his wife belong to the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a democrat and he served as mayor of North Bend for three terms. Fraternally he belongs to the Woodmen of the World. He and his wife became the parents of the following children: Mrs. W. A. McPherson, whose husband is a retired farmer of Fremont ; Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey, who is a widow living at Mitchell, Nebraska ; Mrs. Mary H. Robinson, a widow residing at Ponca, Nebraska; Mrs. J. A. Ross, whose husband is a farmer of North Bend, Nebraska: Mrs. O. J. Walker, whose hus- band is a lumberman of Gibbon, Nebraska; Doctor Andrew, who was the sixth in order of birth: Mrs. James Ferguson, whose husband is a Dodge County farmer : and David, who lives at Lyons, Nebraska. The paternal grandfather, Andrew Harvey, came to Dodge County, Nebraska, in the '70s and lived on a farm in this county for many years. He reached the advanced age of ninety-six years before he was claimed by death. The maternal grandfather, James Ritchie, came to Dodge County, Nebraska, at an early day. He, too, is deceased, passing away at North Bend, Nebraska, after useful life spent as a farmer and preacher.
Doctor Harvey attended the local schools of Dodge County and North Bend, and was graduated from the high school of the latter place in 1903, following which he took a four-years' course in Bellevue College, from which he was graduated in 1907 with the degree of Bachelor of Science, and then taught for the subsequent two years. He matriculated at the University of Nebraska, in the medical department, and was graduated therefrom in 1913 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately following his graduation Doctor Harvey began the practice of his pro- fession at Craig, Nebraska, where he remained for two and one-half years, and then came to Fremont, locating permanently in this city in November, 1915, and has built up some very excellent connections, and his practice shows a steady and normal increase.
On October 22, 1913, Doctor Harvey was married to Mabel Thom, born at North Bend, Nebraska, a daughter of Alexander Thom, mayor of North Bend, president of the First State Bank of that city, and a man of more than ordinary prestige. Dr. and Mrs. Harvey have two chil- dren, namely : Dorothy Jean and Alexander. They belong to the Pres- byterian Church. Fraternally Doctor Harvey is a Mason. Although he exercises his right of suffrage by voting the democratic ticket, Doctor Harvey does not take a very active part in politics, being absorbed in his practice. Professionally he maintains membership with the Dodge County Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Society, the Elkhorn Valley Medical Society and the American Medical Association. While living at Craig he was president of the Burt County Medical Society for a year. A close student and conscientious practitioner, Doctor Harvey has been very successful and has honorably won and holds the confidence and respect of his neighborhood both as a physician and as a man.
HERMAN G. SASSE. Among the younger men who have assumed the active burdens of agricultural management in Dodge County, one is Herman G. Sasse, who has always believed that the best and fullest life
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is to be found in the country. He has remained on the homestead farm, where he grew up, and has laid a sure foundation of success in the work for which he was trained.
The Sasse farm is in section 26 of Maple Township. Mr. Sasse was born there April 12, 1891, grew up with an education in the common schools, at the age of twenty-three married and began farming for him- self. He has since operated his father's place of 280 acres, and does both general farming and stock raising. In 1920 he purchased an improved farm of eighty acres in Nickerson Township, Dodge County, which he took charge of in March, 1921.
Mr. Sasse is independent in political affiliations. In 1914 he mar- ried Sarah Knoell who was born in Dodge County.
WILLIAM J. MAHER. One of the best known of the younger attor- neys of Washington County is William J. Maher, of Blair, an honored native son who has always tried to measure up to the standard of correct manhood and this locality is proud to number him among its progressive and representative men, having always maintained his home here. In all the relations of life he has proved true to every trust reposed in him and no one is worthier of the high esteem in which he is held.
William J. Maher was born in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska, on October 25, 1894, and is the son of James E. and Grace A. (Hayes) Maher, both of whom also are natives of Washington County and are now living in Blair. James E. Maher was born in October 27, 1858, and is the son of William and Catherine (Walsh) Maher, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father was born in 1824 and died on May 7, 1888, and the mother who was born in 1824, died in 1891. William and Catherine Maher were married at Davenport, Iowa, where they first settled after coming to this country, and in that city he ran a hotel for two years. In 1858 he came to Washington County, Nebraska, and homesteaded a farm, on which he lived for about six years, at the end of that time moving into Blair, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were members of the Roman Catholic Church and in politics he was a democrat. He served as a member of the City Council and also on the School Board for several years in Blair. Of the six children born to them, four are living, namely: Mrs. R. A. Heaton of Wahoo, Nebraska; James E., father of William J., of this sketch; Mary, the widow of J. T. Powers, living at Muskogee, Oklahoma; Lizzie, the wife of Fred Cunningham of Muskogee.
James E. Maher was educated in the public schools of Blair and on attaining mature years he engaged in the mercantile business, which occupied his efforts for a number of years. He was successful in busi- ness and in 1897 retired from the mercantile business and now gives his attention to his farms, several of which he owns in this locality. In 1890 he was married to Grace Hayes, who was born and reared in Blair, the daughter of Patrick Hayes, who was born in Ireland and came to Blair in 1869, when the town was first started. He ran a lumber yard here for a number of years and was successful in his business affairs. To James E. and Grace Maher were born seven children, namely: Ruth, the wife of Reed O'Hanlon of Blair; William J., of this sketch ; Roland, who is a student in the law department of Georgetown University at Washington, D. C .: Robert, who graduated from the Blair High School in the spring of 1920; Charlotte, who is attending St. Mary's Academy, Notre Dame, Indiana ; James and Margaret. The family are identified with the Catholic Church and in politics James E. Maher is a democrat.
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He has taken an active part in public affairs and served for eleven years as a member of the Board of County Commissioners and twenty-four years as a member of the School Board.
William J. Maher attended the public schools of Blair, followed by a year's attendance at the University of Nebraska, and then was a student in Creighton College, where he was graduated in 1916, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Immediately thereafter he formed a law partner- ship with Clark O'Hanlon and has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession continuously since. As a lawyer he has won the repu- tation of a safe and sound practitioner, and by a straightforward, honor- able course he has built up a good legal business, being considered one of the leaders of the Washington County bar.
In 1915 Mr. Maher was married to Winifred Donahue, who was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and they have one child, John Joseph. They are members of the Catholic Church and Mr. Maher is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is also a member of the Gamma Eta Gamma, a college law fraternity. In every respect he merits the high esteem in which he is universally held, for he is a man of public spirit, professional ability and exemplary character.
JAMES J. MCFARLAND. A man of talent and enterprise, James J. McFarland, who has recently turned over to his son the management of the Dodge Criterion, was for many years proprietor of that paper, and successfully devoted all his thought and energy to making it a bright, reliable, and above all, a clean sheet, nothing of worth being too small to claim his attention, and no topic so large that he could not handle it intel- ligently. A son of the late A. M. McFarland, he was born March 9, 1857, in Clinton County, Indiana, where his childhood days were spent.
A pioneer of Nebraska, A. M. McFarland trekked across the country with a colony of thirteen families from Indiana to Nebraska, camping and cooking by the way in true pioneer style. Locating in Stanton, then a little settlement of six families only, he took up land in what is still called Hoosier Hollow, on Pleasant Run Creek, becoming a homesteader in 1868, and on the farm which he reclaimed spent the remainder of his seventy-five years of earthly life. He was a Baptist minister, and in addition to preaching was known far and wide as the best auctioneer in the Elkhorn Valley. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Couger, attained the advanced age of seventy-nine years. Their children, eight in number, were reared on the homestead and educated in the district school.
Well trained in agricultural pursuits under his father's instructions, James J. McFarland spent all of his earlier life on the home farm, as a boy doing all the chores incidental to farm life. Having a decided taste and talent for journalism, he became familiar with its rudiments in Stan- ton, and subsequently edited and published the Stanton Democrat for five years, and later managed the Stanton Register for twelve years, making it one of the best papers of the kind in Stanton County.
Coming to Dodge in 1901, Mr. McFarland assumed charge of the Dodge Criterion, and in its management met with assured success from the start. It has a large and constantly increasing circulation, its many readers getting all of the latest reliable news in a condensed form, whether foreign or domestic, and keeping well informed on local affairs. Mr. McFarland recently installed his son as manager of the paper, but still assists in the office if necessary, although he is practically retired from active work.
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Mr. McFarland married, in 1878, Hannah E. Lovett of Stanton and into the household thus established six children have been born, namely : Lillie Daniels, living on a farm in Stanton County ; Elmer M., in charge of the Criterion; Chester died in infancy; Orvil, who lived but eleven years ; Reginald, engaged in farming in Stanton County ; and Maurice, also a farmer in Stanton County. Mrs. McFarland passed to the life beyond on February 15, 1919. She was a member of the Congregational Church, to which Mr. McFarland belongs. Politically Mr. McFarland is a republican, and although he has never held public office, he has ever heartily endorsed all projects conducive to the advancement and pros- perity of his home town.
Elmer M. McFarland, the eldest son of his parents, began working for himself at the age of eighteen years, being engaged in farming for two years. Subsequently serving an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, he followed it until 1906, when he removed to Ashland, Nebraska, where he was in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company until 1919, doing clerical work at first, but afterward having been employed as a mechanic in the roundhouse. Resigning the position, he bought a half interest in his father's paper, the Dodge Criterion, of which he has now full control, in its management meeting with acknowl- edged success. He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Highlanders.
Elmer M. McFarland married, October 23, 1909, Jennie R. Bricker, whose parents reside in Ashland, Nebraska, and they have one child, Wynona, born in 1911.
JOHN B. JANSSEN. The steady tides of immigration which have flowed into the fertile states of the northwest have had their part in the marvelous growth of this region, but they take away none of the credit from the men who dared the hardships and endured the privations of life in the early days, although many of them now sleep in death. One of these men of Nebraska, now gone from this life, was John Janssen of Dodge County, who in dying left behind him a keen appreciation of his sterling characteristics which are not easily forgotten, any more than they were overlooked while he was living. He was a good man, a kind neighbor and worthy citizen, and no higher praise can be accorded anyone.
John Janssen was born in Hanover, Germany, January 15, 1841, a son of John Henry and Katherine Janssen, natives of Germany, both of whom died in their native land. In 1871 John Janssen came to the United States and first stopped at Toledo, Ohio, where he secured employment chopping wood. Later he spent a short time in Illinois, where he was married to Katherine Brandt, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Henry and Mary Brandt, natives of Germany, who came to the United States and became farmers of Illinois. After his marriage Mr. Janssen came on west to Nebraska, and for a time lived at Fremont, where he worked at whatever he could find to do. As soon as possible he rented land, then bought a farm, and on it did general farming for thirty years. Feeling that he had by this time earned a rest, he retired and moved to Hooper, where he died November 2, 1904. He was an independent voter. Zion Lutheran Church held his membership, and he lived up to its creed in his every-day life.
Mr. and Mrs. Janssen became the parents of the following children : Anna, who married Willis Marshall, a farmer of Belgrave, Nebraska, and she died March 9, 1920; John, who is a farmer of Dodge County ;
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Herman, who is also a farmer of Dodge County ; Emma, who is the wife of Peter Miller, a farmer of Dodge County; Mary, who died March 1, 1906, was the wife of Gust Agers; Amelia, who is the wife of Henry Johanning, a farmer of Dodge County; Lucy, who married George . Bower, a farmer in the vicinity of Scribner, and he died April 6, 1920; Carrie, who died in infancy ; Charles, who is an attorney; Fred, who is also an attorney, and two who died in infancy. Fred Janssen is a veteran of the World war, and served in Company L, Three Hundred and Fifty- Fifth Regiment, Eighty-Ninth Division of Infantry, for six months abroad after a training of thirteen and one-half months at Fort Funston. For ninety-three days he was under fire and was a brave soldier. He received his honorable discharge on June 13, 1919, and is now a member of Hooper Post No. 18, American Legion. Charles Janssen was also in the service as a member of the balloon corps, receiving his first training at Omaha, Nebraska, from whence he was sent to Camp Dodge, Virginia, where he was honorably discharged, after being in the army for eighteen months. He, too, is a member of the American Legion.
NATHANIEL W. SMAILS. Seventy-one years have dissolved in the mists of the irrevocable past since Nathaniel W. Smails, one of the best known citizens of Dodge County, first saw the light of day. He has lived through one of the most remarkable, and in many respects the most wonderful, epoch in the world's history. There will never be another like it, for it embraced the period when the strong-armed homeseekers from the eastern states invaded the great west (he being among the num- ber) and redeemed it from the wilds, bringing it up through various stages to its present high state of civilization. To all this he has been a most interested, and by no means a passive, spectator, having sought to do his full share in the work of progress in the locality which he selected as his place of abode. He talks most interestingly of the early days when customs and manners were different in many respects, but when real manhood and womanhood were valued at their true worth.
Nathaniel W. Smails was born in Monroe, Michigan, on August 6, 1849, and is the son of James and Margaret (Levington) Smails. Both parents were born and reared in England, immigrated to the United States and were married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the officiating clergy- men being Rev. Nathaniel West, who afterwards was the first chaplain appointed by President Lincoln. James Smails was a tailor by trade and for a number of years followed that trade in New York. In the early '40s he went to Michigan, living in Monroe and Coldwater, where he was engaged as a merchant tailor until 1882, when he retired from active business and came to Fremont, Nebraska, where he spent his remaining years, both he and his wife being now deceased. He was a republican in his political faith and a member of the Presbyterian Church. To him and his wife were born nine children, of which number three are living, namely : Nathaniel W .; Robert L., and Abraham L., all of whom live in Fremont and are partners in business.
Nathaniel W. Smails received a good public school education, com- pleting his studies in the high school. He then apprenticed himself to learn the printing trade in Coldwater, Michigan, receiving $50 for a year's work. In 1869 he came to Fremont, Nebraska, secured the owner- ship of the Nebraska Statesman and ran it until 1875. Then for a short time he was employed on another paper here, afterwards buying the Herald and conducting it for a short time. During this period he also issued a daily edition for a short time. About 1904 Mr. Smails and his
FI Fiblodt.
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two brothers, Robert L. and Abraham L., engaged in the job printing business here and are still so engaged. They operate under the name of the Electric Print Shop and have built up a large and representative business in their line.
Politically Mr. Smails has been a lifelong supporter of the democratic party and has for years taken an active part in political affairs, having served for ten years as secretary of the Democratic State Central Com- mittee. In 1914 he was appointed postmaster of Fremont and served for four years, then resigning. He proved himself a competent, painstaking and courteous public official and was popular with the patrons of the office.
In 1895 Mr. Smails was married to Cora B. Kemp, a native of Minne- sota, whose family came to Fremont many years ago. Her father, who was a lawyer by profession, was a railroad right-of-way man and first came through here when the railroad was being built from Dubuque to Minneapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Smails have one child, Judith Margaret, who is now attending Midland College. Mrs. Smails is a member of the Episcopal Church. A public-spirited citizen, Mr. Smails has stood at all times for those things which make for the best phase of community life. The qualities of keen discrimination, sound judgment and execu- tive ability have entered very largely into his makeup and have been contributing elements to the success which has come to him.
FRANK W. FUHLRODT. Widely and favorably known as the efficient postmaster of Fremont, Frank W. Fuhlrodt is thoroughly acquainted with the duties of his responsible position, his remarkable aptitude hav- ing been developed by years of consecutive service in the postoffice, dur- ing which time he familiarized himself with the work of each of its various departments. A son of the late Conrad Fuhlrodt, he was born April 10, 1878, in Chicago, Illinois, coming from French and German ancestry.
Born in France, Conrad Fuhlrodt came to the United States when very young, and for a long time lived in Illinois. During the '70s he moved to Chicago, from there coming, in 1878, to Fremont, Nebraska, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits a number of years. Mov- ing to Washington County, this state, he opened a store in Telebasta, and in addition to running a general store also served as postmaster there until his death. He married, in Illinois, Elizabeth Hausfeldt, a native of Germany, and they became the parents of eight children, as follows: Ida, wife of Henry Schafersman, a retired farmer, living near Norfolk, Nebraska; Albert, engaged in farming at Wisner; Amelia, wife of Arthur Lamb, a retired farmer of Albion, Nebraska: Emma, wife of Frank Felder, a shoe manufacturer of Seattle, Washington; Frank W., of this sketch; William L. of Fremont, with the Bader Furniture Com- pany ; August C., a metal worker in Seattle, Washington; and Conrad A. of Omaha, a traveling salesman. The father was a republican in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
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