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 142

Author: Dobbs, Hugh Jackson, 1849-
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Publishing and Engraving Company
Number of Pages: 1120

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 142

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GUY R. BRYSON is operating a farm in Adams township and is meeting with success. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having oc- curred in Athens county, October 17, 1879. He is a son of David W. and Elizabeth (Bor- der) Bryson. The father was born in Athens county, Ohio, February 1, 1837. During the Civil war he served in the home guards. He was a farmer all his life. In 1880 he came to Gage county and engaged in farming land where the town of Adams now stands. He passed away, in Adams township, September 17, 1882. Mr. Bryson was a member of the Methodist church. In 1856 he married Miss Elizabeth Border, who was born in Ohio, De- cember 28, 1832. She now makes her home with her son Guy. She has reached the age of eighty-four years, is enjoying good health and finds employment and pleasure in piecing quilts. She became the mother of ten chil- dren, as follows: Lois, wife of Nat. Shaw, of Adams, Nebraska ; Mrs. William E. Bryson, of University Place, Nebraska ; Florence, de- ceased; Mrs. Mary Applebee, of Maryville, Missouri; Elmer A., of Chicago; Archibald C., of Adams; Herbert, of Lincoln, in the United States railway mail service; Harry, deceased ; Mrs. Bertha Dixon, of Adams ; and Guy R.

Guy R. Bryson came to Gage county with his parents when a child. He was reared on a farm and wisely chose agriculture as an occupation. On June 13, 1901, he married Miss Marie De Young, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of John and Clara (Post) De- Young, natives of Holland, and Iowa respec- tively. Mr. De Young came with his family to Nebraska in 1897, settling in Lancaster county. Later he conducted a hardware store in Adams, Gage county, and he and his wife are now residents of Emporia, Kansas. Mrs. Bryson attended the State Normal school at Peru, Nebraska, and followed the profession

of teaching prior to her marriage. Mr. Bry- son is meeting with success in his farming operations and readily gives his endorsement to those projects which have to do with the uplift of his community.

JOHN A. REULING. - When a truly able and gifted man finds his niche in the world of business and finance, his success is certain and definite. There is no miscalcula- tion about his being adapted to his surround- ings -a really successful person becomes more so when he has found the proper line of endeavor in which to exercise inherited and developed talents. Truly successful men are those who have studied themselves and their aptitudes, physical, mental, and moral, and when they have found their vocation they are successful in it because of their love for and knowledge of it. John A. Reuling, successful financier and business man, is one who has found his true potential and developed himself and his powers to the fullest extent.

John A. Reuling, president of the First Na- tional Bank of Wymore, was born in Musca- tine, Iowa, August 23, 1866, a son of John A. and Louisa (Schnier) Reuling, both natives of Germany. John A. Reuling, Sr., came to the United States when a boy of fourteen years and located at Burlington, Iowa, where he learned the baker's trade and finally en- gaged in business. Later he moved to Mus- catine, Iowa, where for many years he carried on a very successful business. The time that prosperity smiled upon him with no uncertain smile was when two railroads were being built through Muscatine and brought many laborers and artisans of every sort to the little village. The railroad service made the little village grow and prosper, and Mr. Reuling's business prospered accordingly. He had started at the lowest rung of the ladder and through persistent effort, hard work and snatching opportunity by the forelock, he re- tired from business with more than an ordi- nary competence.

In Iowa Mr. Renling married Miss Louisa Schnier, who was born in Germany and who came to Iowa with her native-born German

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parents. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Reuling, as follows : James R., a retired capitalist, living at Muscatine, Iowa ; George W., a grocery merchant in Muscatine, Iowa ; John A., subject of this sketch; Walter E., professor in the machinery department of the University of Michigan; Anna M., wife of J. W. Page, an assessor at Joplin, Missouri ; Lucy E., wife of E. R. Reinement, in the dry- goods business at Muscatine; Nellie and Ella are single and live at Muscatine, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Reuling were members of the Lu- theran church and the Democratic party re- ceived the vote of Mr. Reuling. He was a self-made man and a public-spirited citizen, who took a lively interest in all movements for civic betterment. He served on the Mus- catine city council for some time. Both he and his wife died and were laid to rest at Muscatine, Iowa.

John A. Reuling, with whom this sketch deals, received his education in his native city and was there graduated from the high school in 1885. The first work Mr. Reuling tried after starting work for himself was in a com- mission house, but he did not remain long with this concern, his ambitions being along a different line. In his home town he was then employed by a successful jeweler, who taught him the trade, and for twenty years Mr. Reuling devoted his entire energies to this work. He was in Fort Scott, Kansas, for some time and then came to Wymore, Ne- braska, in 1891, and started a jewelry store. This business he continued until 1910. In 1902 he became interested in the Wymore State Bank, of which corporation he was vice- president. When the institution was reorgan- ized as a national bank and incorporated as the City National Bank, he was elected its presi- dent. In 1910 the City National Bank and the First National Bank corporations com- bined under the corporate name of First Na- tional Bank, and Mr. Reuling discontinued his jewelry business to devote his entire time to his banking business, as the president of the First National Bank. The building in which they did business was completely de- stroyed by fire in 1914.

In 1893 Mr. John Reuling and Sara E. Deemer were united in marriage. Mrs. Reul- ing is a daughter of John A. and Elizabeth (Erwin) Deemer. Her parents moved to Iowa from Indiana, where Mr. Deemer was engaged in the lumber business. His eldest son, Horace E. Deemer, was elected to the supreme court of Iowa, in which capacity he distinguished himself. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reuling. Mrs. Reuling was brought up in the gentle faith of the So- ciety of Friends and still remains a member of the organization. Her husband was confirmed in the Lutheran church and is still a communi- cant of same. Politically he allies himself with the Republican party and he has served three terms as mayor of Wymore, also one term as the city treasurer.

The First National Bank of Wymore, of which Mr. Reuling is president, has a capital of $50,000, with undivided profits and surplus of $16,000, the average deposits being $500,000. He devotes his entire time to his banking interests but during this time of the world war he has effected an organization which has for its goal the supplying of funds for the war and for army supplies. He is also chairman of the Gage County Bankers' Pa- triotic Association, organized in the fall of 1917.

Mr. Reuling was the first president and one of the organizers of the Farmers' Grain, Lum- ber & Coal Company of Wymore, also presi- dent of the Building & Loan Association. He is affiliated with the York Rite bodies of the Masonic fraternity and also with the Mystic Shrine. He has served as master of his Ma- sonic lodge, as high priest in his local chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and as thrice illus- trious master of the council of Royal & Select Masters. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is trea- surer of his lodge, and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

ARCHIE C. HITT. - The late Archie C. Hitt was born in Delaware county, New York, May 13, 1848. The Empire state was the- home of the Hitt family for many years, his-

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

parents, Samuel and Jeannette (Campbell) Hitt, were likewise born in Delaware county, the former on the 16th day of September, 1812, his death occurring July 10, 1883, in Odell, Nebraska. The mother was born May 15, 1812, and died January 7, 1877. Samuel Hitt was a lumberman in the early days when he lived in Delaware county. That county to-day hears the lumberman's ax no more, as it is densely settled and covered with factories of every sort. But the men like Mr. Hitt blazed the way that the factory might in its turn be raised. In this county was solemnized the marriage of Samuel Hitt and Jeannette Campbell, and their three children were there born. In 1855 they removed to Ogle county, Illinois, and there Mr. Hitt engaged in farm- ing. In that county they laid the wife and mother to rest, in 1877. In 1883 the father and sons came to Gage county, Nebraska, lo- cating in Odell. Shortly after their arrival Samuel Hitt passed to the life eternal, his death occurring on the 10th day of July, 1883. Of the three children the following brief rec- ord is offered: Mary J. is the wife of H. Price, living in Paddock township, this county ; Archie C. is the subject of this memoir; and George B. has later mention in this sketch.

Archie C. Hitt was married to Etta Shafer in Ogle county, Illinois. She was born De- cember 5, 1859, in Delaware county, New York, a daughter of I.yman and Jane Shafer. Her father likewise was engaged in the lumber business in New York. He later farmed in Ogle county, Illinois, and also farmed for some time in Mississippi, going to the latter state in 1898. In 1907 he came to Beatrice, Nebraska, where he made his home until his death, September 6, 1914. Mr. Shafer was born in 1829, and his wife, Mrs. Jane Shafer, was born in 1837: she makes her home with her oldest daughter, Mrs. Archie Hitt.

In 1883 Mr. and Mrs. Archie Hitt came to Elm township, Gage county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Section 24. Mr. Hitt pursued his farming operations on this land until his death, May 18, 1899. Four children came to bless this home, as

follows: Jennie is the wife of Frank J. Kauf- man, of Elm township; Alvin also resides in this township; Cora is the wife of H. L. Raney, living south of Wymore, this county ; and Archie D. is at home with his widowed mother. When Mr. Hitt died he left a burden of debt on the farm. His widow, with the children, did the farm work and paid the in- debtedness. She even worked in the field to compass this worthy end.

George B. Hitt, the brother of Archie Hitt, was born in Delaware county, New York, January 6. 1850, and is now engaged in farm- ing one hundred and sixty acres of land in Section 24, Elm township, just south of the Archie Hitt farm. The two brothers worked constantly in partnership and since Archie's death George Hitt has helped Mrs. Hitt with her farming and makes his home with her and her family.

George Hitt's early life was spent in Dela- ware county, New York, and Ogle county, Illinois, and since then he has farmed the present land, with the exception of one year, 1883-1884, when he farmed in Marshall county, Kansas. Mr. Hitt has never married. He votes the Republican ticket and takes an active interest in all local civic affairs.

WILLIAM M. EBY, who is living retired on his farm in Glenwood township, was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1847. His father, Moses Eby, was likewise a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where he was born November 11, 1826. In 1850 Moses Eby became a pioneer settler in La Salle county, Illinois, where he located on a farm near where the city of Mendota was afterward built. He was a successful farmer and his last days were spent at Freeport, Illi- nois, where he passed away in 1908, at the age of eighty-two years. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Haak. She was born in Le- banon county, Pennsylvania, and passed away at the old home in La Salle county, Illinois, December 9, 1876. They were the parents of five children. William M. is the eldest, be- sides being the only son ; two daughters, Ade- line and Ida died in young womanhood; and

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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM M. EBY

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

the two surviving daughters are Mrs. George Betz, of Princeton, Illinois, and Mrs. Philip Betz, of Storm Lake, Iowa.

William M. Eby was three years old when the family settled in Illinois, where his boy- hood days were spent in the usual manner of farm lads of that period - attending the public schools and assisting in the work of the farm. On reaching manhood he purchased land and engaged in farming in an independent way. He continued his farm enterprise in Illinois until 1885, when he came to Ne- braska. The first year he spent in Odell, and in 1886 he bought his present farm, upon which he has lived continuously since that time: The improvements on the place were of a very primitive order, but these were replaced with the buildings that now adorn the prop- erty and which are among the best in the township. Though this farm has always been his home he has rented his land year after year for sixteen years, in the meanwhile he con- ducted a general merchandise store at Lan- ham, and since severing his connection with mercantile pursuits he has lived retired.

While a resident of Illinois Mr. Eby was united in marriage to Miss Malinda Eckert, a native of La Salle county, that state. She was born May 7, 1852, a daughter of Jonas and Nancy (Erb) Eckert, who were natives of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and who, in 1849, became residents of La Salle county, Illinois, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Eby became the parents of seven children: Ed is in the em- ploy of the United States postoffice depart- ment, as clerk in the postoffice at Lincoln, Ne- braska; Ida is the wife of Ed Jeffreys ; Wil- liam is deceased; Mrs. I. E. Fanlder lives in Riverside township; Henry is a resident of Beatrice; Laura is the wife of Clarence Ruyle. of Bookwalter, Nebraska ; and one child died in infancy.

Mr. Eby came to Glenwood township when conditions were far different than those of the present day, and in the work of transforma- tion he has taken an active interest and part. He is a Republican in politics and has served as treasurer of his township, but the emolu-

ments of public office have had no attraction for him, and close application to his own af- fairs has brought him the success that enables him to put aside the active work of former years and enjoy a well earned rest.

FRANK STRAUCH was born in Germany on the 28th of June, 1854, a son of Karl and Elizabeth Strauch. Karl Strauch was born in Germany in 1828, and died January 1, 1892. His wife was born in 1831 and died in 1881. They became the parents of ten children, three of whom are still living: Frank, of Barneston, Nebraska, is the immediate subject of this sketch ; Agnes first wedded August Walters, who died many years ago, and she is now the wife of August Dierich. their home being in Germany; and William is a farmer in Ger- many.

Frank Strauch came to the United States and arrived in Burlington, Iowa, on May 15, 1881, with only forty dollars in money. He stayed in Iowa only a short time and then came to Nebraska, where he worked on farms. By hard work and strict economy he saved three hundred dollars, and in 1883 he came to Gage county and bought eighty acres of land on the Otoe Indian reservation, making, out of his savings, a small payment on this land. Mr. Strauch improved this property and made the farmn his home for twenty-five years. In 1899 he retired, and he has since made his home at Barneston, this county.

On January 23, 1894, Mr. Strauch was united in marriage to Miss Ida Volkmer, daughter of Ferdinand and Caroline (Rei- schel) Volkmer, who came to the United States from Germany in 1881. On their passage over they were shipwrecked and had some very thrilling experiences. Ferdinand Volkmer settled in Burlington, Iowa, and for many years worked for the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad Company.

Frank Strauch and wife have no children. They are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Strauch is a Democrat and served as township assessor of Liberty township in 1899 and 1900. The township was always consid- ered strongly Republican, but Mr. Strauch was

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elected on the Democratic ticket, which goes to show his standing in the community in which he lives. Mr. Strauch has never had the advantages of an English education, but through hard work and study has educated himself.

ISAAC KILER, a retired farmer, living in Barneston, has been allied with the agricul- tural life of Gage county for the past thirty- five years. He is now enjoying the rest earned after years of hard labor, in winning the wild prairie to fertility and helping to build up a great agricultural community.

Isaac Kiler was born February 13, 1844, in Richland county, Ohio, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Hassinger) Kiler. John Kiler was born in Germany, in 1815, a son of John Kiler, a German farmer who came to Rich- land county, Ohio, in 1819, and endured all the vicissitudes of the early sailing-ship voyage, rude log cabins and the felling of the forests to make a home and clearing a space of ground for the growing of grain for the sustenance of life. These staunch and brave men who en- dured the hardships of those early years of our nation's history gave to their posterity brain and brawn to build up the nation which is to-day the vital exponent of the democracy man. In these rude surroundings, and close to the things of nature, John Kiler, Jr., grew to manhood and he then took as his wife Elizabeth Hassinger, who was a native of Ohio, born in 1824. In 1848 they moved, with rude ox team, over hill and valley to the state of Michigan and again built the log cabin, in the clearing of the pine forests of Michigan. Sons and daughters to the number of eight came to bless them, but ere they had reached manhood and womanhood the wife and mother passed away, in 1858. Leaving the remains of his loved companion and selling his property, Mr. Kiler moved with his family to Benton county, Iowa. Three children of this family are living, as follows: Mrs. Greenly, a widow, residing in Belle Plaine, Iowa; Isaac, subject of this sketch; and William, a farmer near Dodge City, Kansas.

John Kiler was married the second time, to

Miss Saralı Shaver, who. bore him five chil- dren, four of whom are living, as follows : Iona, residing in the state of Washington ; John, a farmer near Superior, Nebraska; Charles, a traveling man; and Mrs. Nettie Lutz, living in Washington. The last days of John Kiler were spent in the home of his son Isaac, of this sketch, and he passed away January 1, 1889.

Isaac Kiler received his early education in Michigan and Benton county, Iowa. He helped his father on the farm until his mar- riage, in 1870, to Miss Clara Severance, who was born in Marion county, Ohio, a daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Severance. Mr. Sev- erance died in Michigan, where he was a farm- er, and his wife died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Kiler. Five children of this family are living: Emily, the widow of Wil- liam Smith, resides at McCook, Nebraska ; Phila is the wife of Charles Smith, a painter at Beatrice, Nebraska; Lucy is the wife of T. S. Jones, a breeder of stock at Wessington Springs, South Dakota ; E. W. is employed by the Burlington Railroad, in Wyoming; and Clara is the wife of Isaac Kiler, subject of this sketch.

In 1883 Isaac Kiler and his family came to Gage county and here he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, in Liberty town- ship. This land had never had a furrow turned nor been the habitation of a white man. Mr. Kiler and his wife made the im- provements and continued their farming op- erations until they retired, in 1906. One child, P. M., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Kiler and he is now operating the farm in Liberty town- ship. He married Frances Gallogly, and they have two children, Thelma and Bernice.

Isaac Kiler is one who started with no money but with much of ambition and deter- mination to succeed and make the most of his opportunities. In connection with his farm in Liberty township, Mr. Kiler owns one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Kansas. He loves to review the early day experiences and he tells of the trip he made from Council Bluffs, in April, 1864, with a lot of horses that he took overland to Salt Lake City,

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arriving - after many long weary days and nights on the trackless plains, under the stars - June 1, 1864, in Salt Lake City, and in Sacramento, California, June 28th. There were no hospitable roofs under which he could remain at night, but only the broad, virgin country with not a human habitation in sight for miles and miles. Then there were the hostile Indians and the wild animals constant- ly stalking the venturesome traveler. Before returning to Iowa, Mr. Kiler worked for two and one-half years in the lumber yards and saw mills.

The politics of Mr. Kiler are in accord with the Republican party and he and his wife are valued members of their community.

EDWARD NOVOTNY, a farmer of Elm township, was born in this township July 15, 1884, and is a son of John and Rose Novotny, all of whose four children are living. John Novotny was born in Bohemia, as was also his wife. He retired from active farming and is now living in Wymore, this county.

Edward Novotny has spent all of his life in the county of his birth. He received his education in the rural school of district No. 118, and has learned the art of farming in the hard school of experience. He has learned nature's whims and is able to make his broad acres yield their treasures of wheat and corn.

On the 23d day of August, 1881, in Sanga- mon county, Illinois, was born Nina A. Leg- gett, who became the wife of Edward Novot- ny, their marriage having been solemnized July 17, 1903. Mrs. Novotny is a daughter of Joseph and Eliza C. (Magee) Leggett. (See the sketch of Joseph Leggett for a complete history of this family.) After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Novotny came to their present farm, in Elm township, and they have labored together toward the goal of success and inde- pendence. Six children have come to bless their union, and all remain at the parental home, their names and respective dates of birth being here noted: Hilda E., September 14, 1905; Lila M., October 21, 1907; Muriel A., March 6, 1910; Lawrence E., October 24,

1912; Iona E., July 13, 1914; Donald L., De- cember 28, 1915.

Mr. Novotny is a Republican and has served effectively as a member of the school board, of which he is now the treasurer. He is a shareholder of the Odell Farmers' Elevator & Lumber Company, and also is interested in the local telephone company. Mr. Novotny received from his father the one hundred and sixty acres of land which he owns, as his share of the estate. He is a successful farmer and is interested in all of the civic developments of his locality.

FREDERICK KRACKE, SR. - This pop- ular pioneer citizen of Gage county was another of the sturdy young men who came to this section of Nebraska in the early days and by indomitable energy and perserverance pushed forward to the goal of large and well merited success. Upon coming to the county, from Iowa, in 1879, he purchased, at the rate of twelve dollars an acre, one hundred and sixty acres in Section 31 Clatonia township, only two acres of the tract having been broken. On this pioneer farm he and his brother Her- man continued their vigorous operations four years, and he then married and purchased the eighty acres that constitutes his present finely improved and attractive homestead place, in Grant township. In 1885 he erected on this farm a frame house of two rooms, and this later gave place to his present commodious and modern residence. He continues to hold secure place as one of the representative farm- ers of this county, where he is now the owner of three hundred acres, in Section 6, Grant township, besides which he owns one hundred and sixty acres in Jefferson county, two hundred acres in Saline county, and one hun- dred and sixty acres in the San Luis valley of Colorado. He is specially prominent in Gage county industry as a breeder of fine Durham cattle and Chester White swine. Of all that he has achieved through personal ability and energy it is sufficient to say that when he ar- rived in the United States, as a German youth of sixteen years, his financial resources were

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· HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

MRS. FREDERICK KRACKE, SR.

FREDERICK KRACKE, SR.

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summed up in a single gold piece of twenty dollars, while at the present time he is the owner of a valuable landed estate aggregating over one thousand acres in area.

Mr. Kracke was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, December 23, 1853, and there he received the advantages of the ex- cellent national schools. In 1870, at the age of sixteen years, he severed the gracious home ties and set forth to seek his fortunes in the United States. For the first two years he worked on a farm in Ohio, and he then went to Jackson county, Iowa, where he was simi- larly employed for the ensuing seven years, his wages at the start having been but ten dollars a month. At the expiration of this period he came to Gage county, Nebraska. He is presi- dent of the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator at Dewitt, Saline county and is one of the sub- stantial and influential citizens of this section of the state.

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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 142

Author: Dobbs, Hugh Jackson, 1849- Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Publishing and Engraving Company Number of Pages: 1120

Author: Dobbs, Hugh Jackson, 1849-
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Publishing and Engraving Company
Number of Pages: 1120