USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 59
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 59
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hension of a case, he is considered one of the leaders among the attorneys of the Washington County bar.
In 1900 Mr. Mencke was married to Eliza McCoy, who was born in Missouri, and they have a son, Ralph W., born on August 27, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Mencke are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Mencke is a democrat in his political views and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He has served as city attorney of Blair four years and in other ways his popularity among his fellow citizens has been recognized. He is a public-spirited, unassuming, conservative, genteel gentleman whom to know is to respect and admire.
GABRIEL RICHARD STEWART, who is familiarly known as "Dick" Stewart in his home community in Washington County, came with his parents to Nebraska prior to the admission of the state to the Union, and in his youth he gained a plethora of experience in connection with life on the frontier. In 1883 he engaged in farm enterprise in Washington County, where he continued his successful activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower until 1913, since which year he has lived retired in the attractive Village of Kennard, this county.
Mr. Stewart was born in Champaign County, Illinois, on December 29, 1854, and is a son of David M. and Nancy (Barnes) Stewart, both of whom were born in the State of Ohio. In the pioneer days the father became actively identified with the great western cattle industry, in connection with which he drove cattle from Indian Territory and Kan- sas into Nebraska, as well as from Texas to Nebraska. In 1861 David M. Stewart came with his family to Nebraska and established a home at Omaha. Thereafter he was for some time engaged in overland freight- ing from Omaha to Denver and Salt Lake City, and he was one of the first to make a cattle trail from Texas to Omaha. He died at the early age of thirty-five, and his widow passed the closing period of her life in Washington County, where she died at the age of sixty-two years. Of the children the subject of this review is the eldest; Alma H. is the widow of Rufus Clair and resides at Blair, Washington County ; Charles F. is deceased ; Jacob A. operates a grain elevator in York County. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Stewart became the wife of Jonathan Alloway, and two sons of this marriage survive her-Oliver S., engaged in the oil business at Enid, Oklahoma, and Simon B., a telegraph opera- tor residing at Dayton, Iowa. The father of Mr. Stewart was a demo- crat in politics and the mother was a zealous member of the Free Methodist Church.
Gabriel Richard Stewart was a lad of seven years at the time when the family home was established in Omaha, and he gained his early edu- cation in the public schools of Nebraska Territory. When eleven years old he made one trip with his father to Kansas, to procure 250 steers that were to be broken and used for freighting. After the death of his father Mr. Stewart was given charge of the live stock of Sheely Brothers, who then conducted the largest butchering business in the City of Omaha. Thereafter he was engaged in running cattle to the Omaha and Winne- bago Reservation in the employ of Edwin Loveland, and in 1873 he came to Washington County and became associated with his stepfather, Jona- than Alloway in farm enterprise. At this time he purchased land in the county, but in 1876 he began as a cowboy on the range in western Nebraska for the firm of Keith & Barton, of North Platte. In 1883 he returned to Washington County, where he married Miss Lucy Magee, a
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native of Pennsylvania, and they established their home on the farm, to which he later added until he had a total of 160 acres. He developed one of the well-improved and valuable farm properties of this county and still owns the same. Here he continued his active operations as an agriculturist and a grower of good grades of live stock for fully thirty years, and his energy and good management brought him a generous measure of prosperity with the advancing years. Upon retiring from his farm he established his residence in the Village of Kennard, as pre- viously stated in this article, and here he and his wife have an attractive home in which they delight to extend welcome to their many friends. Mr. Stewart is a stanch democrat in politics, is affiliated with the Masonic Fraternity and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. To them have been born five children : Belle is the wife of Claar LeCrone, who is engaged in the sawmill business at Kennard; Edna is the wife of William Nelson, and they reside on her father's old home farm ; Jennie became the wife of David Pritchard and is now deceased; Winnie is the wife of Soren C. Cook, engaged in the real-estate business at Kennard; and Donivan C., who is now identified with farm enterprise in Washington County, was for fourteen months in service in the United States navy at the time of the late World War. He went to Manilla, Philippine Islands, China Sea and Siberia, and returning home received his honorable discharge at Denver before he was eighteen years old, he having enlisted before he was seventeen years of age.
EDMUND R. GURNEY, who is now president of the Lion Bonding & Surety Company in the City of Omaha, has been a resident of Nebraska since boyhood, and here he has found ample opportunity for his effective activities in connection with business enterprises of impor- tant order. He has been specially influential in connection with banking enterprise and is known as one of the representative and influential fig- ures in the financial circles of the state, with a record of splendid achieve- ment in the development and managing of strong banking institutions. Though his activities are now centered in the City of Omaha, he ren- dered so valuable a service in connection with the affairs of the First National Bank of Fremont, Dodge County, of which institution he is still vice president, that it is but consonant that in this publication be entered a brief review of his career.
Mr. Gurney was born at Monticello, Iowa, on May 22, 1870, and is a son of Mark and Emma (Goodrich) Gurney, who were born in Massa- chusetts but whose marriage was solemnized in Iowa, prior to the Civil war. Mark Gurney developed a prosperous enterprise as a manufacturer of furniture at Monticello, Iowa, and after his retirement from active business he came to Nebraska in 1883, and settled in Cedar County, where he made investment in real estate. Later he removd with his wife to Kansas, where they passed the remainder of their lives and where he was serving as county judge of Graham County at the time of his death. Mr. Gurney was a man of fine mentality and sterling character, was prominently affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, in which he passed various official chairs, including those of the Knights Templar order, and in politics he was a stanch advocate of the cause of the repub- lican party. Of the four children Edmund R., of this review, was the third in order of birth, and of the number one other likewise is a resi- dent of Nebraska ; Clara, who is the wife of B. H. Williamson, of Arling. ton, Washington County.
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Edmund R. Gurney gained his preliminary educational discipline in the public schools of his native state and was a lad of thirteen years at the time of the family removal to Nebraska, where he continued his studies in the schools of Cedar County, besides having been for one year a student in Fremont College, of which William H. Clements was then the executive head. His first remunerative occupation was that of teach- ing in the schools of Nebraska, and after having served two years as principal of the high school at Ponca, Dixon County, he initiated his banking career by taking a position as assistant cashier of a bank in the little Village of Dixon, that county, where he thus continued his services three years. His initiative energy, his ambition and his resourcefulness were then shown by his effecting the organization of the Laurel State Bank at Laurel, Cedar County, and under his five years' regime as cashier of this institution it developed a prosperous business. Upon leaving Laurel Mr. Gurney purchased control of the Merchants State Bank of Winside, Wayne County, and he continued as president of this bank for three years. In January, 1904, he came to Fremont and as vice presi- dent assumed forceful executive functions in connection with the First National Bank, the affairs of which were greatly advanced under his vigorous and progressive administration. He still holds the office of vice president of this institution, which continued to receive the major part of his time and attention until January 1, 1919, when he was elected president of the Lion Bonding & Surety Company of Omaha, to which representative financial institution he has since given characteristically effective promotive service, his connection with the corporation marking still further advance in his peculiarly successful career as a constructive force in financial affairs. This company bases its operations on a capital stock of $600,000, its surplus fund aggregating $400,000, and its business being disseminated over fifteen states of the middle west and southwest. Mr. Gurney is actively interested also in the First Bank of Nickerson, Dodge County; the Scribner State Bank of Scribner, this county; the First State Bank of North Bend, this county ; the Farmers State Bank of Ames, likewise in Dodge County; and the Arlington State Bank at Arlington, Washington County. The success that has attended the earn- est and prolific activities of Mr. Gurney is the more gratifying to con- template by reason of the fact that his advancement has been entirely due to his own ability and efforts. He has manifested a fine sense of personal stewardship in connection with his various banking enterprises, and has also been conspicuous for his civic liberality and progressiveness -especially in connection with the furtherance of the general advance- ment of the City of Fremont, where he still maintains active executive connection with the First National Bank, though he now resides in the City of Omaha.
Well fortified in his opinions concerning governmental and general economic policies, Mr. Gurney has always given unwavering allegiance to the republican party and has been active in its service. In 1916 he was a delegate at large from Nebraska to the Republican National Con- vention in the City of Chicago, where he served as chairman of the Nebraska delegation. He has been for a number of years treasurer of the State Central Committee of his party in Nebraska. In a fraternal way he is actively affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and with the Knights of Pythias.
In the year 1893 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gurney to Miss Minnie Reynolds, who was born in the State of Pennsylvania, and they have five children: Norris is superintendent of the Baker White Pine
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Lumber Company of Baker, Oregon; Clair, who served nearly two years in the Marine Corps during the nation's participation in the World war, is now assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Fremont; Marion is a member of the class of 1921 in the University of Nebraska, and Theodore and Louise continue to impart youthful buoyancy in the parental home. Mr. and Mrs. Gurney hold membership in the Presby- terian Church.
R. G. WIESE. Just half a century ago the Wiese family put in its first crop in the soil of Washington County, and through all successive years they have been here, have contended with the difficulties of soil and climate and economic conditions, and have contrived to prosper and achieve something creditable to their name.
One of the prominent representatives of the family is R. G. Wiese, owner of a large and valuable farm in Richland Township, in section 15. He was born in Germany March 23, 1865, and just a year later his parents, Asmus and Dorothy Wiese, set out for the United States. The first three years they lived in Iowa. In Germany they were like many others, poor, living from day to day and when they came to America they did not possess money enough to pay their passage across. This passage money was furnished by a brother of Asmus, Hans Wiese, who had come to America some years before and lived at Davenport, Iowa. He was the only other member of the Wiese family to come to this country. Asmus Wiese in 1869 came to Nebraska. He rented some land and in 1870 put in his first crop. For about eight years he provided for his family by renting and then bought eighty acres, and from that time forward his affairs were moderately prosperous and at one time he owned 400 acres. Altogether he has been a very successful citizen, and is still living, making his home with his son R. G., and was ninety-two years of age on November 2, 1920. His wife died at the age of forty-nine. They had four children, two of the sons, Henry and George, being deceased, while the only living daughter is Mrs. Katrine Japp.
R. G. Wiese grew up in Washington County from the age of five years and shared with the family in some of their early hardships. He has done well in his mature career, and at the present time owns a farm of 320 acres, devoted to crops and live stock. He is also a director and treasurer of his local school board and has filled that office for a num- ber of years. He is a republican voter, he and his family are Lutherans and his is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1888, at Blair, Nebraska, Mr. Wiese married Lena Schlapkohl, who died August 3, 1900, the mother of five children: Claus, Rudolph, Bertha, Amanda and Mata, all living except Mata. For his present wife Mr. Wiese married Lena Harder, a daughter of Joseph and Christina Harder, of Blair. To this union were born eight children, all at home, named Herman, August, Arthur, Clarence, Christina, Asmus, Dorothy and Henry.
JOHN H. GRIMM. Washington County has profited by the stable citizenship and faithful industry of the Grimm family since the '60s. Practically all bearing the name have been interested in agriculture, but their services have been extended also to politics, education, religion and society. John H. Grimm, a resident of Blair, and for many years known as a prominent farmer and stockman, represents the second generation of his family in the county. He was born at Blair in 1872, and is a son of Hans and Elizabeth (Harders) Grimm.
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To the man who took up his abode in the prairies of the central west more than a half a century ago was vouchsafed a wealth and diversity of experience beside which that of those active in the twentieth century pales in insignificance. If the men of the frontier suffered, they also lived, and their existence was turned to far higher purpose than the mere getting and parading of wealth and its luxuries. In those days a code of honor prevailed which made it possible for a man to borrow money without putting up gilt-edged securities, and instances were rare in which the debt was not paid as agreed upon. These and other advantages of a non-commercial age are recalled in the life of the late Hans Grimm, whose earthly pilgrimage passed by sixty-eight milestones, and who became one of the substantial and highly respected agriculturists of Washington County.
Hans Grimm was born May 6, 1841, in Germany, and was about twenty-four years of age when he came to the United States and located at Blair. At the time of his arrival he had but small means, but his judgment was good and his foresight accurate, and he began buying land at the city limits. During the early years he experienced all the hardships of the frontier, but as time went on his resources increased, as did his comforts, and he continued to add to his holdings while employing himself in cultivating the soil and feeding cattle and other stock. Through wise investment and marked industry be became one of the large land-holders of his community, as well as a citizen who was held in the highest esteem, his declining years being crowned with the love and respect of all who knew him. At his death he left his eight children an inheritance of money, as well as a heritage of ability and an honorable name, and each of the children has put his inheritance to good use and has upheld the name of what is known as one of Washington County's most highly esteemed families.
Hans Grimm passed to his final rest in 1909. He was married at Blair in 1869 to Elizabeth Harders, who was born in Germany March 29, 1842, and died in 1903, and they became the parents of eight children, of whom seven are living: C. H., who occupies the old home place near Blair ; Dr. P. G., a physician and surgeon of Spirit Lake, Iowa ; John H .; Louis, who occupies a farm north of Blair; Dr. Arthur, a dental prac- titioner of New York City; Edward, who occupies a farm in Washing- ton County ; and Mrs. K. A. Petersen, of Blair.
John H. Grimm was educated in the public schools of Blair, and when entering upon his independent career chose the vocation of farming as his life work. He has been engaged therein throughout his career, and at this time is the owner of three large farms in Washington County, all of which are highly improved and in an excellent state of develop- ment. Mr. Grimm has made a specialty of raising live stock, and in 1920 shipped twenty-seven carloads of cattle to the market. He is a man of the highest integrity and enjoys the confidence of his associates in business life and in several social and civic bodies to which he belongs. He is unmarried and makes his home at Blair in a comfortable and modernly-furnished residence.
JAMES B. ANDERSON, M. D., has been since 1912 engaged in the practice of his profession at Kennard and is one of the able and repre- sentative physicians and surgeons of Washington County. He was born at Buffalo, Dallas County, Missouri, on October 17, 1887, and is a son of Rev. Moses Anderson and Maria (Burns) Anderson, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Illinois. The father went to Iowa
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in the pioneer days, and at Red Oak, that state, he received his higher educational training. He became a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and held pastoral charges both in Colorado and Nebraska, to which latter state he came as a pioneer. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Of the children James B. is the only son ; Nellie P. is the wife of Roy Beman, who is engaged in the drug business at Ceresco, Saunders County, Nebraska ; and Faye, Elsie and Carroll remain at the parental home at Ceresco, the father having had pastoral charge of a number of churches in different counties in Nebraska.
In the public schools of this state Doctor Anderson continued his studies until he had completed the curriculum of the high school at York, where also he attended York College one year. In preparation for his chosen profession he entered the medical department of Creighton Uni- versity in the City of Omaha, and in this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1910. After thus receiving his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine he was engaged in practice at Arcadia, Valley County, about one year, and on January 15, 1912, established his residence at Kennard, where he was associated in practice with Dr. Wil- liam H. Pruner, Sr., until the death of the latter in 1915. Since that time he has continued in the control of a large and representative general practice, with high reputation in his exacting profession, and active as a member of the Washington County Medical Society, besides which he is a member also of the Elkhorn Valley Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. The doctor is a stalwart advocate and supporter of the principles of the democratic party, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic Fraternity, in which latter he has received the Knights Templar degree, and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church in their home village.
In October, 1910, was solemnized the marriage of Doctor Anderson to Miss Cleo Pruner, daughter of his former and honored professional associate, Dr. William H. Pruner, Sr., and the three children of this union are Ella Sue, James B., Jr., and Robert P., the two older being students in the public schools of Kennard at the time of this writing, in 1920.
CHRIS SCHUMACHER. Some of the best farms and some of the best farmers in Dodge and Washington counties are to be found in Richland Township of the latter county. One of the country places that immedi- ately' attract attention in that locality is the farm of Chris Schumacher in section 16. He has lived in this locality all his life and has always exemplified the qualities of the sound agriculturist and public-spirited citizen.
He was born in this county July 17, 1880. His father, Henry Schu- macher, was a native of Germany and was an early settler around Fort Calhoun, where he started as a worker, until he was able to homestead and acquire property of his own.
Chris Schumacher, as a boy, acquired a common school education and established a home of his own in 1904 by his marriage with Miss Louise Stender, of Washington County, daughter of Chris and Charlotte Stender. Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher have three children, all at home, Henry, Doretta and Freddie.
The farm which Mr. Schumacher so industriously and intelligently manages comprises 290 acres, with good improvements and highly pro-
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ductive. He has been interested in the affairs of the community, serving on the school board for twelve years, is a member of the Farmers Union of Washington, casts his vote independently and affiliates with the Lutheran Church.
WILLIAM JAHNEL, one of the prosperous farmers and business men of Washington County, is a son of Frank Jahnel, who came to this sec- tion of Nebraska more than forty years ago and is a retired citizen of Blair.
William Jahnel was born in Washington County in 1880. The story of his family appears on other pages. While he had only the advantages of the common schools, he has always shown that progressiveness which has made him an interested student of local conditions and has kept him in touch with the leading issues of the time. He grew up at home, worked with and for his father, and since 1908 has been established for himself on the old homestead of his father, where he has 240 acres, exemplifying some of the best equipment and some of the best live stock and crops in Richland Township. His farm is in section 11 and is two miles east and a mile and a half south of Kennard. The chief feature of his live-stock farming is a herd of Polled Shorthorn cattle.
Besides his farm he has co-operated with other citizens to secure bet- ter marketing and other economic advantages, and is president of the Farmers Grain and Lumber Company of Kennard and also one of the organizers and president of the Home State Bank of Kennard. Just recently he was elected and began his service as a director of the home school. Mr. Jahnel is a republican and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1906 he married Margaret Kahlke, who was born in Holstein, Germany, the same section from which the Jahnel family came. The Kahlkes came to the United States, where the mother died at the age of seventy-three, and her father then went back to Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Jahnel have five children, all at home, named Bertha, Frank, Helen and Margaret and Marian, twins.
NICKELS PETERSEN. While the life record of Nickels Petersen has been closed. his family are still prominently represented in Washington County, and the farm where he spent so many industrious years is still a substantial 'evidence of his character and enterprise. This fine old country home is one mile north and two and a half miles east of Wash- ington in Richland Township, section 27.
Mr. Petersen was born in Germany in 1842, and was reared and educated in his native land, where he acquired the habits of thrift asso- ciated with the German people. In 1866 he came to America and for the first ten years lived in Clinton County, Iowa. He saw his efforts prosper in a moderate degree in Iowa and when he came to Nebraska in 1876 he was able to buy a quarter section of land at $10 an acre. It was a tract of prairie but had no improvements. He broke the virgin sod, erected a house and other buildings, cultivated and harvested many suc- cessive crops, and was esteemed as a prosperous farmer and good citizen of that locality for forty years. About five years after coming to Nebraska Mr. Petersen bought eighty acres adjoining the 160 acres, in section 34. He died January 1, 1916. He was a democrat in voting and a member of the Lutheran Church.
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