USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 8
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 8
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In 1883 he married Manda A. Jones, a native of Illinois. Her father, W. R. Hamilton, was one of the early settlers of Washington County. Mr. and Mrs. Cahoon are the parents of seven children : Robert, a merchant at Hooper; Rossie, wife of Edward Uehling of Hooper ; Percy, who is in the motorcycle business in California ; Irv- ing, proprietor of a confectionery store at West Point, Nebraska; Parke, interested in the creamery at Fontanelle; George Dewey, a student in Coe College at Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Lourene, at home. The family attend the Union Church. Mr. Cahoon is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Royal Highlanders, the Modern Woodmen of America and
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politically has always cast his vote in the interests of the republican party.
GOTTLIEB HARTUNG. Representing one of those substantial families that comprised an important colony of Washington County settlers who came from Quincy, Illinois, Gottlieb Hartung has lived most of his life in Washington County and a large farm with splendid improvements demonstrate the success he has achieved here. His home is in section 21, a mile south of the Town of Fontanelle.
Mr. Hartung was born at Quincy, Illinois, February 21, 1869, son of Fred and Sophia (Kruger) Hartung. His parents were natives of Germany. His father, a carpenter by trade, went to Quincy, Illinois, in early life and both farmed and followed his trade for several years. Subsequently he came west by prairie schooner and located among old friends and neighbors in the Fontanelle colony, where he bought land and continued farming and stock raising. He also built many of the homes of the earlier settlers. He had a long and useful life and died honored and respected at the age of sixty-nine in 1903. His widowed mother is still living, aged eighty-five. Both were active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and his father was a democrat. To their marriage were born eight children: August, William and Julius, all farmers in Washington County; Mary, wife of Henry Pluggy, a farmer in Wash- ington County; Lizzie, deceased; Catherine, wife of Fred Huewman, living on a Washington County farm; Emma, wife of Fred Brackett, a farmer in Washington County : and Gottlieb.
Gottlieb Hartung attended his first school in Washington County and completed his education before he settled down to the serious responsibilities of life. He assisted his father on the farm for a number of years, and at the age of thirty-one established a home of his own. His has been a record of straightforward progress and today he owns 355 acres, with fine improvements, and operated as a stock farm. Mr. Hartung is also a member of the progressive organizations in his section, being a stockholder of the Farmers' Union and the Fontanelle Mercantile Company.
In 1898 he married Miss Emma Jacobs, a native of Washington County and a daughter of Henry Jacobs. To their union were born ten children : Agnes, Obert, Mata, Freda, Violet, Verna, Ervin and Merle, all at home, while the youngest were twin daughters, Lorraine and Lorretta, the latter being deceased. The family are members of St. Paul's Luth- eran Church. Mr. Hartung casts his vote according to the dictates of his independent judgment. The father of a large family, he is naturally interested in their education, and for fifteen years has served as a mem- ber of the School Board in District No. 5.
GEORGE FRANKE, who was brought to Washington County when a child more than forty years ago, has securely established himself in a community of prosperous farmers and farm owners around Fontanelle. He owns a valuable farm a mile east of the town in section 10, and while absorbed in the duties of his farm he has found time to participate and help influence for the good various community projects.
The Frankes, like so many of the substantial families of Fontanelle, came from Quincy, Illinois. George Franke was born at Quincy in 1873, son of William and Anna (Stiegel) Franke. His parents were natives of Germany and the father was a cooper by trade and was employed in that line in a factory at Quincy, Illinois, until he came out to Washington
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County in 1879. In Nebraska he applied himself successfully to general farming and stock raising and died in 1890 at the age of fifty, his widow surviving him until 1915, being eighty-four at the time of her death. Of eight children six are still living: Adam, a farmer in Washington County ; Louis, a Washington County farmer ; Anna, widow of Henry Neiderhofer who lives near Arlington; Lizzie, wife of August Hartung ; Martha, wife of Reinhart Sick of Hooper, Nebraska ; and George. The father of these children was at one time a trustee of the Lutheran Church at Fontanelle. In politics he was independent.
George Franke acquired his education in the schools of Fontanelle and after the age of twenty-five became a farmer on his own account. He has always combined cattle feeding with the raising of crops, and for several years has specialized in Shorthorn cattle. Like his father he is an independent voter and he and his family are members of the Lutheran Church at Fontanelle.
. In 1897 Mr. Franke married Wilmena Kampf, who was born in Germany, a daughter of William Kampf. Their home life has been blessed with four children, all at home, named Wilmena, George, Chester and Helen.
WILLIAM O. ANDERSON, whose home is in section 22 of Hooper Township, has always looked upon Nebraska as a state of opportunities. However, the opportunities were not the kind that a man would seek desiring an easy life and income. He has realized his rewards at the expense of a great deal of labor, many sacrifices, and a persistent going ahead and doing the duties that came nearest to him, no matter how cir- cumstances might frown and forbid.
Mr. Anderson was born on an Illinois farm in 1875 and a year later his father, David Anderson, took his family to Iowa. W. O. Anderson grew up in a home of simple comforts, acquired a common school edu- cation, and at the age of nineteen, with a sister and a brother aged seven- teen, came to Nebraska. His first location was in Colfax County and having no money with which to buy land he made out as a renter for thir- teen years, gradually accumulating some capital. He remained near North Bend as a renter until 1907 when he bought a farm in Boone County, Nebraska, where he remained four years, when he sold and moved to North Bend for five years, then in 1916 he came to his present place near Winslow and purchased 615 acres. On this land his enterprise has greatly expanded, and he is one of the leading farmers and stock men of the locality. In livestock he specializes in the raising of sheep.
Mr. Anderson is a stanch republican in politics, and fraternally is affiliated with the Masons and Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are Methodists.
Mr. Anderson married in June, 1897, Miss Anna Banghart. They have four children, capable young people who have grown up to appre- ciate the value of education as well as industry. These children are Frank D., Edward L., Harvey D. and Mabel L. Frank D. enlisted August 13, 1918, when nineteen years old at Fort Logan in the engi- neers, Camp Humphrey, Virginia, was made bayonet instructor and was on board train to go overseas when the armistice was signed. He obtained a release and came home. Discharged December 13, 1918.
Mrs. Anderson is a daughter of Vangilder Banghart, a pioneer of Dodge County, who in 1868 homesteaded eighty acres in Ridgeley Township. His first home was a dugout, but gradually he gave his fam- ily all the substantial comforts of life and made a farm that is still rated
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as one of the best in that section of the country. He was one of the early fruit growers, setting out a large orchard, and placed many shade trees around his home. When he first came to the county his nearest market was the little Village of Fremont, containing only a few buildings.
Vangilder Banghart was born in Ohio in December, 1835, son of Henry and Mary A. Banghart, natives of New Jersey. Their four chil- dren were Vangilder, Isaac, Mary J. and Henry. Vangilder Banghart lived in the Buckeye State until he was thirty years of age, and when he reached Nebraska he was $5.00 in debt, having borrowed that sum at Omaha. At that time he was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 in Company I of the Twelfth Ohio Infantry. He was in a company commanded by Captain Cable, and during his first three months' enlistment served in the West Virginia campaign. After being discharged he again enlisted in Company G of the Second Ohio Infantry and served with the Fourteenth Army Corps in the army of the Cumber- land. Altogether he gave three years and five months to the cause of winning the Union. Among other battles he was at Iron Mountain, West Liberty, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and went through the heat of the conflict without a wound. He was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, and in March, 1865, he married Catharine A. Roat, daughter of Jacob and Nancy Roat, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Banghart became the parents of ten children : Thomas, Ida, William T., Lillie, Mrs. Anna Anderson, Jesse and Frank, both deceased, John L., Nellie and Roy G. The Bangharts are members of the Methodist Church.
GEORGE G. HINDMARSH was one of the capable, honest, public-spirited citizens who gave the greater part of his life to the development of a Dodge County farm, making a home, providing for those dependent upon him, and associating himself with every worthy cause in his community.
He was born in Illinois and died in Dodge County January 21, 1915, at the age of fifty-three, having come to Nebraska as a youth. On January 1, 1888, he married Miss Emma Pollock, then sixteen years of age. She was born in Douglas County, Nebraska, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Pollock. Her father, a native of Scotland, came to the United States at the age of eighteen, lived for a time in Illinois, from which state he went into the Union army during the Civil war, and after the war went west to California, but eventually settled in Douglas County, Nebraska, where he homesteaded and where he spent the rest of his life improving a farm. Of the eight children of Joseph Pollock and wife Mrs. Hindmarsh is the oldest. The others were Irvin, Bert, Olive, Nellie of Minneapolis, Leander, deceased, Allen of Minneapolis, while the youngest died in childhood.
George Hindmarsh was a practical young farmer when he married and during the rest of his life he looked after his landed interests, farmed on a rather extensive scale, and converted a tract of prairie into a farm improved with good buildings and now an attractive feature of the landscape. A republican voter, he was always progressive in matters of citizenship and for the last four years of his life held the office of township assessor.
After her husband's death Mrs. Hindmarsh made her home in Arling- ton, but finally moved back to the farm to assist her son in operating the 160 acres. The family enjoy the comforts of one of the good rural homes of Dodge County. Mrs. Hindmarsh has shown much capability
Ed. a. Niebaum, arma S. Niebaum
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as a business woman and practical farmer. She is the mother of nine children : Pearl, John, Irvin, Wesley, Clarence, Stuart, Marvin, Donald and Genevieve. Mrs. Hindmarsh has been a member of the Methodist Church since the age of fourteen years.
OTTO LANGHORST, SR., has the distinction of having made his home continuously on one tract of land in Washington County forty-three years. That farm indicates the quality of enterprise, industry and good management that have always prevailed there. The Langhorst homestead is in section 22 of Fontanelle Township, the home being a mile and a half south and a mile east of Fontanelle Village.
Mr. Langhorst was born in Germany October 12, 1843, son of Henry Langhorst, a German farmer who spent all his life in the father- land. Otto Langhorst was reared and educated in his native land and soon after his marriage started for America, reaching Washington County May 4, 1869. To begin life in America he had come practically to the very western frontier. After reaching Omaha he traveled to his destina- tion by wagon. For a time, having limited capital, he rented land, and then engaged in farming on his own property. In 1877 he bought his present place, and through all the years has handled good livestock in connection with his crops.
In 1869, in Germany, he married Mary Brunkost. Eight children were born to their marriage: Anna, at home; Henry, a Washington County farmer; Otto, A., Jr., of Fontanelle; Edward, who lives on a farm in Dodge County ; William, Albert and Louis, all at home; and Mary, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died Septem- ber 11, 1912, at the age of sixty-six, forty-three years after her marriage, and after she had seen her sons and daughters grow up to useful man- hood and womanhood. Mr. Langhorst is actively identified with the Lutheran Church at Fontanelle and politically casts his vote with the republican party.
EDWARD NIEBAUM, whose farm home is in section 9, a mile northeast of the Town of Fontanelle, grew up in this community and has lived here for more than half a century. He has prospered in his farm activi- ties, and has also acquired many interests to identify him with the sub- stantial citizenship of Washington County.
Mr. Niebaum was born at Quincy, Illinois, March 15, 1865, and was brought to Washington County in 1868 as part of the Quincy colony that began settlement here in pioneer times. His parents, Herman and Recia (Monke) Niebaum, were born in Germany, lived on a farm near Quincy, Illinois, for several years and in 1868 established their home in Nebraska among many of their former friends and neighbors from Illinois. They made the journey from Quincy by wagon and team. Herman Niebaum for many years was an industrious farmer around Fontanelle and died in 1892, while his widow survived him until 1912 at the age of eighty-three. He served a number of years as a trustee of the Lutheran Church at Fontanelle and was a republican in politics.
Edward Niebaum was educated in the common schools of Washing- ton County, finished his education in Midland College in Kansas, and for thirty years has been practically identified with farming. He owns one of the well-improved places of the township, and from the farm his interest has gone out to other enterprises. He is a stockholder in the First Bank of Nickerson, in the Great Western Tire and Body Company of Omaha, the Lyon Bonding Company of Omaha, Blackstone Hotel,
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Omaha, in the Baker White Pine Lumber Company of Oregon and in the Farmers' Union at Nickerson. In 1891 Mr. Niebaum married Miss Anna Sprick, daughter of Henry Sprick, Sr., one of the most promi- nent of the old Quincy colony at Fontanelle, of whom a complete sketch is found on other pages of this volume. They have four children: Leah and Dorothy, both graduates of the Fremont High School, and Clarence and Willis, who are still getting their education in the local schools. The family are Lutherans and Mr. Niebaum is a republican.
WILLIAM J. McVICKER, who is now living practically retired in the thriving little City of North Bend, Dodge County, was a lad of thirteen years when, in 1864, he accompanied his parents on their immigration to Nebraska Territory, the family home being established in Dodge County, where he was reared to manhood under the conditions that marked the pioneer days. Few men in Nebraska have had as wide and varied an experience as has Mr. McVicker, for, as a skilled millwright and practical mining engineer, he has held important executive positions in South Africa, Australia and Mexico.
Mr. McVicker was born in New York City on November 24, 1850,. and is a son of Robert and Margaret (McKee) McVicker, both natives of Ireland, where the former was born January 3, 1824. Robert Mc Vicker was reared and educated in his native land, whence, in 1850, he came with his young wife to America and established his residence in the City of New York. Later he was engaged in farm enterprise in New Jersey, and finally he removed to Ohio, where he followed the same vocation until 1864, when he came with his family to Nebraska and set- tled in Dodge County, where he reclaimed and improved a pioneer farm and became one of the successful exponents of agricultural and livestock industry in that county. In order to afford his children requisite educa- tional advantages he finally removed from his farm to Peru, Nemaha County, and there he lived virtually retired until his death, at a venerable age, his wife having passed away in April, 1875, at the age of forty-eight years, both having been active members of the United Presbyterian Church and his political allegiance having been given to the republican party. Of the seven children William J. is the eldest; Anna is the wife of Alonzo Tate and they reside in the State of Oklahoma; Joseph is a resident of Long Beach, California ; James is living retired, at Schuyler, Nebraska ; Mary is the wife of William J. Gregg, a farmer near Kress, Texas; Margaret is the wife of Edward Lippitt, a talented teacher of music, and they reside at Liberty, Indiana ; and Hugh is night editor of the Nebraska State Journal, in the City of Lincoln.
William J. McVicker gained the major part of his early education in the public schools of Ohio, and supplemented this by attending the pioneer schools of Nebraska. He early gained a full quota of experience in connection with the activities of his father's pioneer farm, and his initial enterprise of independent order was made when he engaged in farming in Cuming County. He became influential in public affairs in Cuming County and represented that county in the Nebraska Legislature in 1877. In the following year he went to the Black Hills, where, as a millwright, he continued to be actively identified with mining operations for nine years. He passed the following year in Dodge County, Nebraska, and in the meanwhile served as deputy sheriff of the county. In 1888 Mr. McVicker went to Johannesburg, South Africa, under commission to assume charge of mills there operated by an important English min- ing syndicate. He remained three and one-half years. He then went to
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Mexico, to make an examination of mining property, and his next experi- ence was in connection with the equipping and developing of mining properties in Australia. Incidental to this service he was enabled to make the trip around the world. From Australia Mr. McVicker returned to Dodge County, Nebraska, and soon afterward he here recruited and was captain of a company for service in the Spanish-American war. He took his command to Cuba and continued in active service one year. He then passed three years in the handling of important construction work, as a construction engineer, on the west coast of Africa, and in this con- nection he was absent from his home for four years. Since his return he has continued his residence in Dodge County and has not responded again to wanderlust save in one instance. He represented this county in the State Legislature for two terms. His peaceful quietude has been broken by three years' association with mining enterprise in Nevada and his broad experience makes him an authority in the technical details of mining industry. Mr. McVicker is a man of broad views and well poised intellectual powers, is a stanch democrat in politics, is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and he and his wife hold membership in the United Presby- terian Church, in the faith of which he was reared.
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In April, 1872, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McVicker to Miss Jennie H. Miller, daughter of Robert and Jane (Bennett) Miller, who were numbered among the very early settlers in Dodge County, where they established their home in 1856, more than ten years before the admission of Nebraska to statehood ; the journey from Illinois was made with wagon and ox team, and the family arrived in Dodge County July 4th of the year mentioned, Mr. Miller having here secured land and devel- oped one of the first productive farms of the county, he having passed away in 1911, and his wife having died the preceding year. Their names merit enduring place on the roll of the honored pioneers of Nebraska. In conclusion is given brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. McVicker: Margaret is the wife of Charles K. Watson, who is engaged in the lumber business at North Bend ; Ella is the wife of Albert Wood of Lead City, South Dakota; Irma is the wife of James P. Gillis of Boise, Idaho; Robert, now residing at Ranger, Texas, was one of the gallant young men who served with the American Expeditionary Force in France during the nation's participation in the World war, and thir- teen days after his arrival in France he was taking part in the great Argonne campaign, with which he continued forty-one days, he having held the rank of first sergeant at the time of his discharge; Jessie is the wife of John Emerson, manager of the North Bend flour mills; and Frederick is manager of a lumber yard in the City of Omaha.
LEANDER B. SMITH, M. D .- After many years of earnest, faithful and efficient service in the practice of his exacting profession, Doctor Smith has well earned the retirement which he now enjoys, as the shadows of his life lengthen from the West, where the sunset gates are open wide. The doctor built up an excellent general practice in Dodge County and has maintained his home at Fremont, the county seat, since 1867, the year that marked the admission of Nebraska to the Federal Union of commonwealths. Commanding a high place in the confidence and loyal friendship of the people of Dodge County, and honored as one of the sterling pioneers of this section of the state, Doctor Smith is entitled to special recognition in this history of Dodge and Washington counties.
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Doctor Smith was born in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 27, 1846, and is a son of Isaac O. and Sarah (Bunnell) Smith, who passed their entire lives in the old Keystone state, where the father was a prosperous farmer in Wyoming County for many years prior to his death, the old homestead place being still in the possession of the family. Isaac O. Smith supported the cause of the republican party from the time of its organization until the close of his long and useful life, and both he and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their five children three are living, Doctor Smith, of this review, being the eldest of this number; Malissa M. has never married and still maintains her home in Wyoming County, Penn- sylvania ; and Hernando C. still resides in that county, where until recent years he continued to have the active management of the old home farm on which he was born.
Reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm, Doctor Smith acquired his early education in the schools of his native county, and he continued his residence in Pennsylvania until 1867, when he came to the new state of Nebraska and established his residence at Fremont. Here he gave his attention principally to the drug business during the earlier period of his pioneer experience, but finally, in consonance with his ambitious purpose and previously formulated plans, he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of Keokuk, Iowa, in which institu- tion he was graduated as a member of the class of 1878 and with the well won degree of Doctor of Medicine. He forthwith established himself in practice at Fremont, and this city continued as the central stage of his long and successful service in his humane profession, to the work of which he gave his close attention until 1915, when he retired. However, many of the families to whom he long ministered as physician and friend, have continued to ask for his presence in times of illness-a call which he has never refused to meet unless circumstances made his visitation impossible. Doctor Smith is one of the veteran and honored members of the Dodge County Medical Society, and is at the present time one of its oldest members. He is affiliated also with the Elkhorn Valley Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He served several years as city physician of Fremont, and two terms as county coroner. He was reared in the faith of the republican party and has never deviated therefrom. The doctor has been affiliated with the Masonic fraternity for fully half a century, has served as senior warden of the local lodge of Free and Accepted Masons; is a member of Mount Tabor Commandery. Knights Templar, in his home city: and has received the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, besides being affiliated with the Mystic Shrine and holding membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has for many years been an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife likewise was a devoted adherent until her death.
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