USA > Nebraska > Gage County > History of Gage County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religious, and civic development from the early days to the present time > Part 115
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Energetically continuing the improvement of his farm, Mr. Barratt met with cumulative success in the passing years and became spe- cially prominent as a stock-grower in Grant township, where he gave particular attention to the raising of Poland-China swine. He did well his part in furthering the civic and indus- trial development of Gage county, made ju- dicious investments in additional land and finally developed one of the well improved and valuable farm properties of the county - the landed estate which he still retains in his pos- session, besides being the owner of his resi- dence and other property in the village of De- witt, where he established his home on his re- tirement from the farm, in 1903. He was active and influential in communal affairs, was
one of the organizers of the district school in the vicinity of his home farm and served as a director of the same from 1870 until his re- moval io Dewitt, more than thirty years later. He has continuously giyen his earnest allegi- ance to the Republican party and is one of the appreciated and honored members of the old pioneer association of Lincoln and of the post of the Grand Army of the Republic in Dewitt.
Mr. Barratt's reminiscences concerning con- ditions and incidents of the early pioneer days are most graphic and interesting, and in this connection the following record is well worthy of perpetuation in this connection. On the 7th of August, 1867, he and three other men were quartered in a house on the Oak Grove ranch, in Nuckolls county, together with three women and one or more children, when the place was approached by a party of thirty-five Indians who asserted that they were hunting for a band of Pawnee Indians. M. C. Kelley and J. H. Butler, the other two men, went out for a parley with the Indians, by whom they were shot dead. As one of the four guards for the women and children, Mr. Barratt piled bags of flour against the doors and succeeded in keeping the bloodthirsty Indians at bay until they were driven off on the approach of the returning wagon train from Denver, Colo- rado, a few hours after the massacre of the two men.
Mr. Barratt recalls that in August, 1866. this section of the state was visited by a veritable scourge of grasshoppers, which laid havoc to all vegetation and left not a blade of corn in the fields. They next attacked the onion beds and after eating the tops Mr. Bar- ratt states that they would hold each other down in order that they might feast on the onion roots. In May, 1872, while Mr. Bar- ratt was visiting his old home in England, Gage county was visited by a hail storm of such remarkable severity that even fish in the streams were killed. He has shot prairie chickens on the site of the present thriving and beautiful city of Beatrice and there are few, if any, of the incidents, trials, and hard-
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ships of the pioneer days with which he is not familiar through personal experience.
On March 17, 1867, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Barratt to Miss Annie E. Wheeler, who was born in London, England, November 1, 1840, a daughter of Charles and Annie (Pierce) Wheeler, and who came to Nebraska in 1866, in company with an uncle and aunt and one of her brothers and a cousin, she having been in the home of her uncle, in Saline county, at the time of her marriage. Mrs. Barratt proved a most faithful and de- voted wife and mother and was loved by all who came within the sphere of her gentle and gracious influence, she having been summoned to the life eternal December 31, 1914. In the concluding paragraph of this article is given brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Barratt.
William, who is a prosperous farmer in Smith county, Kansas, married Miss Myrtle Quinn, a native of Cass county, Nebraska, and they have four children - Mabel F., Audrey, Ella Beatrice, and Mildred Pauline. Ella is the wife of Edgar Coke, of Dewitt, and with them resides her venerable father. Robert resides upon and has the active management of his father's old homestead farm in Gage county : he wedded Miss Nettie Wolf and they have two children - John F. and Lloyd E. Nellie died in infancy. George, who is a rep- resentative farmer of Blakely township, mar- ried Miss Millie Moore, and they have three children - Georgia M., Birdie I., and Wini- fred D. Harry, the youngest of the children of the honored subject of this review, died at the age of five years.
JOHN F. BURBANK came with his par- ents to Nebraska in the spring of 1883, and has here achieved marked success in connec- tion with the basic industries of agriculture and stock-growing. He was twenty-three years of age when he came to this state and he continued for some time to be associated with farming in Sarpy county, where he was continued in independent farm enterprise until 1900. He then came to Gage county and purchased one hundred and twenty acres
of land in Section 29, Filley township, this farm having been developed and improved by that sterling pioneer, the late John Wesley Wright, to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pages of this work. On this farm Mr. Burbank continued his successful enterprise as an agriculturist and stock-grower until the spring of 1918, when he sold the property to advantage, and he now resides in the village of Filley. He is a Republican in his political proclivities and as a citizen has always stood exponent of loyalty and progressiveness.
Mr. Burbank was born in Peoria county, Illinois, on the 2d of November, 1860, and concerning his father, Benjamin F. Burbank and the family history in general, adequate data appear on other pages, in the sketch dedi- cated to his brother C. A. Burbank. He was reared on the home farm in Illinois and his early educational advantages were those af- forded in the public schools. He has never faltered in his allegiance to agricultural indus- try and through the medium of the same has won success worthy of the name. In Stark county, Illinois, Mr. Burbank wedded Miss Rosa Schanck, who was born in that county, and she passed to the life eternal in 1907, be- ing survived by one daughter, Loisa, who is the wife of J. C. Perky, of Filley. In 1911 Mr. Burbank contracted a second marriage, when Miss Maude Eaton became his wife. Mrs. Burbank was born in the state of Mis- souri.
FRANK R. SHALLA. - Among the na- tive sons of Gage county who have chosen to remain within its borders and who are meeting with success, Frank R. Shalla merits definite recognition. He is a son of Frank Shalla, a pioneer of Gage county, whose record appears elsewhere in these pages. Born in a primi- tive pioneer home in Section 36, Glenwood township, on April 14, 1880, Frank R. Shalla spent his boyhood days in the usual manner of farm lads, his time being divided between his studies in the district school and such farm tasks as his young strength permitted. He was one of a family of eight boys and learned the necessity and value of industry. When
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twenty-one years of age he began working by the month for others, and when he was twenty- five years old his father assisted him in the purchase of eighty acres of land in Section 29, Paddock township, where he bought an adjoining eighty acres. The place contained some improvements, but the buildings were in a run-down condition. For thirteen years he has been building upon and otherwise im- proving the place, and it is to-day one of the valuable farms of the township. As his re- sources increased Mr. Shalla made addition to his land holdings by the purchase of eighty acres in Section 32.
Mr. Shalla completed arrangements for a home by his marriage to Miss Clara Pribyl, who likewise was born in Gage county, and who is a daughter of Tony Pribyl, a pioneer of Paddock township and now a resident of Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Shalla are the parents of five children, - Ella, Sylvia, Edward, Anna and Vera. Mr. and Mrs. Shalla are members of no church, although reared in the Catholic faith. Mr. Shalla expresses his ideas of religion when he says he believes in truth, friendship and love, - and membership in no earthy tabernacle could assure happiness in this world or any world to come more than obedience to the doctrine implied by those three words.
Mr. Shalla is independent in politics. He has served as a member of the school board, and as treasurer of the school district, in both of which positions he rendered efficient ser- vice.
FRED RIGGERT. - One of the finest of farm properties in Paddock township is the home of the subject of this record, who was born in Marshall county, Kansas March 5, 1881. His parents, August and Minnie (Ger- mer) Riggert, both natives of Hanover, Ger- many, came to America when they were young people, and were married in Marshall county, Kansas, where August Riggert took up a homestead and became one of the pio- neer farmers of that county. He was a suc- cessful man in his business ventures, devoting the active years of his life to agricultural pur-
suits, and is now living retired on his farm, having become one of the extensive land own- ers of his county. His wife has passed away, and they were the parents of ten children : Anna is the wife of Fred Klaus, of Paddock township; Fred, was next in order of birth; Sophia is the wife of Ernest Adam of Glen- wood township; Mrs. Fred Gleue and Mrs. Adolph Stohs reside in Marshall county, Kan- sas ; Christ remains on the home farm; Mrs. Freda Stohs lives in Kansas ; and Miss Clara is at the paternal home. Two children died when young.
Fred Riggert was reared on his father's farm in Marshall county, Kansas, acquired his education in the public schools, and under the instruction of his father he learned those les- sons of industry and thrift which have been of great value in after years.
When twenty-two years of age he started his independent career as a farmer. For the first seven years he rented land, and in 1910 he purchased his present farm, upon which he has erected as fine a set of farm buildings as can be found anywhere. An atmosphere of thrift and prosperity pervades the place and easily convinces the observer of the progres- sive and practical methods of its owner. Aside from the raising of cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, Mr. Riggert deals in stock of a good grade, both branches of his business yielding him a substantial income.
For a companion and helpmeet Mr. Riggert chose Miss Mary Adam, of Glenwood town- ship, a daughter of Ernst and Elizabeth (Dan- iel) Adam, of whom mention is made else- where in this volume. In January 1915, Mr. Riggert was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who was the mother of six children, - Elsie, Edwin, Martha, Alfred, Clara and Paul. For his second wife Mr. Riggert wedded Miss Lena Adam, a sister of his first wife, and they are the parents of one child, Lillian.
Mr. and Mrs. Riggert are members of the Lutheran church, the faith of which was held by their parents. Mr. Riggert casts his vote in support of the men and measures of the Re- publican party and is serving as director of his
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school district. He is one of the substantial citizens of his community and any worthy cause for the social, moral or material benefit of Gage county has his hearty support.
HENRY J. SIEMS. - One of the most original and attractive rural homes in Gage county is the beautiful bungalow which adorns the fine farm of Mr. Siems, in Section 22, Grant township. This artistic structure was designed and erected by Mr. Siems, who has had much experience as a mechanic and as con- tractor and builder, and he has also made other improvements that mark his farm as one of the most attractive in the county. He is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of the productive land of Grant township and the same represents his heritage from the estate of his father, who was one of the sterling pio- neers of Gage county.
Henry J. Siems was born at Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois, on the 2d of August, 1873, and thus was about two years of age when his parents came to Nebraska, in the spring of 1876. He is a son of Claus and Lena ( Welt- zein) Siems, both natives of Germany, the former having been born in the province of Hanover, February 11, 1841, and the latter in Mecklenburg, August 18, 1849: their mar- riage was solemnized at Lincoln, Illinois, Mrs. Seims having been a child of five years when she came with her widowed mother to the United States and the home having been es- tablished in Wisconsin, whence removal was later made to Illinois.
Claus Siems was reared and educated in his native land, where also he served an ap- prenticeship to the trade of cabinetmaker. He became an expert artisan and was a vigorous and self-reliant young man when he came to America and established his residence at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. There he was em- ployed in a sash and door factory for three years and for ten years thereafter he was em- ployed in a furniture establishment at Lincoln, Illinois. In 1876, as before noted, he came with his family to Gage county, Nebraska, and incidental to leasing a tract of land in Grant township he gained practical experience
in farm enterprise. In 1881 he began oper- ations on land which he purchased in the same township, and as a pioneer he developed one of the fine farm properties of the county. He eventually accumulated an estate of four hun- dred and eighty acres, of which the present homestead of his son Henry J. is an integral part. His mechanical skill enabled him to effect readily a better order of improvements on his farm, in the matter of buildings and ap- purtenances, and he was known as a citizen of energy and progressiveness, of strong mind and of utmost integrity in all of the relations of life. He was a loyal Democrat in his po- litical adherency and the religious faith of the entire family has been that of the Lutheran church. After the death of his first wife he contracted a second marriage, but of this union no children were born. Of the first marriage were born five sons and two daughters, and of the number the subject of this review is the eldest. I,ouise (Siems) Eckel died February 8, 1911, at the age of twenty-eight years. Louis and Anna Siems are the other living children.
Henry J. Siems was reared under the en- vironment and influences of the pioneer farm, and in the meanwhile he made good use of the advantages afforded in the district schools of Grant township. He virtually inherited much of the mechanical talent and proclivities of his father and was but fifteen years of age when he began effective work at the carpenter's trade. Thereafter he continued to devote the major part of his time and attention to car- penter work in this county until the early '90s, when he went to Bern, Nemaha county, Kan- sas, and established himself in business as a contractor and builder. There he remained ten years, within which period he erected a large number of the business and residence buildings that still mark that progressive vil- lage. It may incidentally be noted also that he was the contractor who erected the edifice of the Catholic church at Dawson, Richard- son county, Nebraska. In 1905 Mr. Siems removed to Seneca, Kansas, where he oper- ated a well equipped planing mill until 1909, when he disposed of his interests at that place
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and went to the city of Denver, Colorado. There he continued as a successful contractor in the erection of high-grade houses until 1913, when, after the death of his father, which occurred November 22, 1911, he re- turned to Gage county and took possession of the farm which he had inherited. Here he has since continued his successful activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower, but he has by no means lost interest in practical me- chanics. In 1916 he designed and erected the beautiful and modern bungalow that now con- stitutes the family home, and this building is of brick and concrete construction, in which connection it is interesting to record that Mr. Siems manufactured the brick and cement blocks used for the purpose, as well as the mechanism demanded in their production. He has further improved the place by erecting a model poultry house of cement and a machine shop of concrete blocks. He has invented a sanitary school-house seat of entire steel con- struction, and another product of his inven- tive genius is a brick-cleaning machine that is now in use in the Argo smelters at Denver, Colorado. His most important invention, however, was the cast stone-block system and mechanism for the moulding of concrete blocks, the same being versatile and accurate, as it will produce concrete blocks or fence posts of any desired size, as well as window sills and tank staves. For the manufacturing of concrete products by his special system Mr. Siems maintains his own well equipped plant on his farm, and he is making plans to manu- facture on a large scale and to ship his pro- ducts to distant points, as well as meeting the requirements of a more localized trade. On his farm is a valuable deposit of fine sand and gravel for use in connection with architectural purposes and from the same he sells about 400 wagon loads annually, and the output is increased every year. Mr. Siems has been at all times energetic and ambitious, and this was significantly shown in his youth by his attend- ing the Beatrice Business College for one term. though in his studies he was handicapped by having previously received only the discipline of the district schools, besides having found it
incumbent upon him to apply himself vigor- ously to work on the home farm. His early farm experience, however, comes into practical use at the present time, as he is not only a skilled mechanic of much inventive ability but is also a well fortified and practical, farmer. He is affiliated with the Modern Brotherhood of America in the city of Denver, Colorado.
February 10, 1896, recorded the marriage of Mr. Siems to Miss Anna Poppe, who was born in Nemaha county, Kansas, May 20, 1877, and who was reared on the pioneer farm of her parents, Frederick and Amalia (Wiese- deppe) Poppe, who are natives of Germany and who are.now residing in the village of Bern, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Siems have three children, all of whom remain at the par- ental home and contribute to its prevading at- mosphere of good cheer and generous hospi- tality, their names being here entered in re- spective order of their birth : Herman, Wilma and George.
WILLIAM H. SHALLA is one of the suc- cessful young farmers of Glenwood township. He was born on his father's homestead in this township, August 25, 1888, a son of Frank Shalla, whose life record is given elsewhere in this volume.
William H. Shalla was reared on the farm, assisted in its cultivation, and five years ago he married and his father helped him pur- chase the one hundred and sixty acre farm upon which he is now residing.
He married Miss Agnes Juricek, a native of Saline county, and a daughter of Frank Juricek, who is retired and living in Crete. Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Shalla have one son, Harry W.
ERNST ADAM. - The subject of this rec- ord is the oldest of a family of seven children born to Ernst and Elizabeth (Daniel) Adam. The father was born in Schlazian, Germany, February 18, 1845, and when a young man of twenty-five came to the United States and found employment at farm labor, first in Iowa and later in Nebraska. He carefully saved his earnings and in the early '80s purchased
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land in Glenwood township, Gage county. He became one of the successful farmers and ex- tensive land owners of the county, his posses- sions at the time of his death being more than five hundred acres. His death occurred on the farm, December 26, 1914. His wife also was a native of Germany, where she was born in 1859, and her death occurred on the farm in Glenwood township, in 1891, both having been earnest members of the Lutheran church. Following is a brief record concerning their children : Ernst, Herman and August are farmers in Glenwood township, on land left them by their father ; Lena, is the wife of Fred Riggert, of Paddock township, his first wife having been Mrs. Riggerts sister Mary, who died three years ago; one child of the family died in infancy ; and a son, Henry, died at the age of six years. .
Ernst Adam, the oldest of the children above mentioned, was born on the farm in Glenwood township, November 3, 1883, was educated in the public schools and inherited one hundred and sixty acres of land from his father. On this place he has erected a splendid set of buildings and here he carries on general farm- ing and stock-raising.
Mr. Adam married Miss Sophia Riggert, who was born in Washington county, Kansas, a daughter of August Riggert. Further men- tion of the family is made in the sketch of Fred Riggert, on another page. Mr. and Mrs. Adam have six children: Alvin, Herbert, Raymond Helen, Hilda and an infant born April 5, 1918. The family attend the Luth- eran church.
C. A. BURBANK, who is numbered among the progressive farmers of Filley township, was born in Marshall county, Illinois, Janu- ary 23, 1865, and is a son of Benjamin Frank- lin Burbank, who was born in Oxford county, Maine, September 22, 1832, a son of Israel and Rhoda (Hatch) Burbank, who likewise were natives of the old Pine Tree state, where they passed their entire lives and where they reared their children on a little farm of twelve and one-half acres, in the midst of the pine for- ests. Benjamin F. Burbank had limited educa-
tional opportunities in his youth but early learned the lessons of practical and productive industry. In 1855 he went to Peoria county, Illinois, where he engaged in farm enterprise. In 1861 he removed to Marshall county, that state, where he continued his activities as a farmer for many years. He owned land not only in that county but also in Stark county, property which he sold in 1883, when he came to Nebraska and purchased an entire section of land in Sarpy county. He gave his supervision to the development of this land and he now, at the venerable age of eighty-five years (1918) makes his home with his sons in Gage county. He represents the sterling character so typical of the sons of New England and is a man who has ever commanded the confi- dence and high esteem of his fellow men. His political support is given to the Republican party and while he has not become actively affiliated with any church organization he has been a close student of the Bible and has deep reverence for the spiritual verities of the Christian faith and practice. As a young man he married Miss Caroline Hovenden, who was born in England and who was a girl when she came with her widowed mother to America, the family home being established in Peoria county, Illinois. Mrs. Burbank was about sixty-seven years of age at the time of her death, in 1903, and she is survived by six children : John F. and C. A. are substantial farmers of Gage county; A. G. is engaged in the banking business at Cordova, Seward county ; Eva is the wife of Oscar Harlan, of Lincoln, this state; Carrie is the wife of Charles Owen, of South Omaha; and Wil- liam H. is a farmer in Sherman township, Gage county.
C. A. Burbank gained his early education in the public schools of Illinois and at the age of twenty-two years he left the home farm of his father, in Sarpy county, Nebraska, to engage in farm enterprise in an independent way. He purchased in that county eighty acres of land, but ten days later he sold the same at a profit of one thousand dollars. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the same county, and there he
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continued his operations until 1900, when he came to Gage county and purchased his pres- ent attractive homestead farm, of one hun- dred and sixty acres, in Section 21, Filley township. The inferior buildings on the farm he has since replaced with thoroughly modern structures, including a commodious house, of modern design and facilities, an excellent barn and other substantial farm buildings. The fine orchard which he planted on this farm is now giving substantial fruitage each successive season, and other improvements likewise de- note his enterprise and progressiveness as an exponent of modern farm enterprise. He takes loyal interest in community affairs and is ready to do his part in the furtherance of enterprises and measures advaneed for the general good. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party.
In the year 1888 was recorded the marriage of Mr. Burbank to Miss Margaret L. Turley, who was born in Morgan county, Illinois, and who was left an orphan in her early childhood, she having been a resident of Nebraska for half a century. Mr. and Mrs. Burbank have three sons, all of whom are associated in the work and management of the home farm - Herbert Benjamin, Harry Harlan, and Charles Albion.
ALEX ARMSTRONG. - The subject of this memoir was born in County Tyrone, Ire- land, June 3, 1857, a son of Andrew and Eliza- beth Armstrong, who likewise were natives of the Emerald Isle, where they spent their en- tire lives. Of their children three sons and a daughter came to the United States. John and Alexander died in Gage county, Nebras- ka; Kate became the wife of William Hom- mersham and resides in Missouri; Charles is a prosperous farmer of Paddock township, and is individually mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
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