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 143
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148
Reverting to the family history it may be noted that Mr. Kracke is a son of Frederick and Mary (Oldman) Kracke, both of whom passed their entire lives in Germany, where the father was a farmer. Frederick Kracke was born in 1812 and died in 1889; his wife was born in 1818 and died in 1886, both hav- ing been devout communicants of the Luth- eran church. Of the children William, Henry and Dorothy (Mrs. Michaelis) died in Ger- many ; Herman now resides at Clatonia, Gage county ; the subject of this review was the next in order of birth; Dietrich resides near Plymouth, Jefferson county; Margaret, who became the wife of Henry Kracke, died in Germany, as did also Sophia (Mrs. Bucholz) ; and August still resides in his native land.
On the 12th of March, 1884, Mr. Kracke married Miss Adeline Meyer, who was born in Hanover, Germany, December 4, 1866, a daughter of Cord and Martha (Boese) Meyer, with whom she came to America in 1882, the family home being forthwith established in Gage county, where her parents passed the remainder of their lives, the father having become a prosperous farmer of Clatonia town- ship. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Kracke Benjamin and Frederick, Jr., are progressive
farmers of the younger generation in Grant township, and Werner is similarly engaged in Saline county; Lena is the wife of George Huneke, of Saline county; and the younger children, who remain members of the gracious home circle, are Gustav, Herman, Emil and Emma.
Loyal in all ways to the land of his adop- tion and appreciative of the opportunities here afforded him, Mr. Kracke has shown this in his civic liberality and progressiveness. He is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party and while he has no ambi- tion for office he was elected assessor of Grant township in 1909. He held this position two years and then resigned, on account of im- paired health. For fully fifteen years past he has been a valued member of the school board of District No. 149, and he has at all times been found ready to give his influence and co- operation in the support of measures and en- terprises advanced for the general good of the community. He and his wife are zealous communicants of the Lutheran church and their pleasant home is known for its generous hospitality and good cheer.
EDWARD G. RATHBUN left the distinct imprint of his life upon Gage county history. He was a farmer who combined with his prac- tical business affairs that rare, upright char- acter that helped to mould the nation's life. Mr. Rathbun was a son of Job B. and Maria (Brown) Rathbun. Job B. Rathbun was born in Steuben county, New York, and was reared to manhood in his native state. After his marriage to Maria Brown they remained for a short while in their home county, but they were soon located in Ogle county, Illi- nois, tilling the soil, their home being near the thriving little city of Rochelle. In 1871 they traversed the prairies to seek newer fields of labor, and located this time in Johnson county, Nebraska. They later moved to De Witt, where Mrs. Rathbun's death occurred, in 1881. Mr. Rathbun was an extensive land-owner, having at one time owned three thousand acres of land. This great acreage was accu- mulated from the hard labor of Mr. Rathbun
1056
HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
and his wise use of the fertile lands of his adopted state, where he remained until his death. He was the father of seven children, only three of whom are living: Fannie is the wife of Charles Ojers, of Lincoln township, who is individually represented on other pages of this volume; Clarence resides at De Witt, Nebraska; and the address of Charles E. is unknown to members of the family in Nebraska.
Edward G. Rathbun, the subject of this memoir, was born December 25, 1863, in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois, and when just a lad he participated in the great adventure of crossing the plains in a covered wagon and sleeping under the stars. His early years were spent in Johnson county, Nebraska, and in 1880 he came to Gage county to till some of her fertile soil.
It was in this county, February 27, 1887, that he married Nellie E. Whipple. After their marriage he farmed one hundred and sixty acres of land northeast of Ellis, Ne- braska, and he and his young wife shared to- gether the vicissitudes of the early farmers on unbroken land. In 1892 they purchased land adjoining the village limits of Ellis, in Section 20, Lincoln township. He continued to add to his land holdings until he had several hun- dred acres. Mr. Rathbun passed away Jan- uary 7, 1913.
Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun became the parents of eight children, as follows: Edna is the wife of Rev. J. H. Bankson, of Reynolds, Nebraska; Olive died in infancy; Stella is the wife of H. C. Clausen. of Anderson, In- diana ; Julia is the wife of C. L. McClure, of Ellis, Nebraska, farming the home place; the next child, a son, died in infancy ; Viola is the wife of L. A. Peckham, living near Pawnee City, Nebraska; Rose and Rulo remain at home with their mother. Mrs. Rathbun, the mother of these children, was born March 23, 1870, near St. Charles, Illinois, and is the only child of Frank and Mary (Vinecke) Whipple. At the age of fifteen years Mrs. Rathbun came to Beatrice, Gage county, where she remained in the home of her maternal grandfather, Benjamin Vinecke, until the time
of her marriage. Mrs. Rathbun is the owner of 137 acres of land in Lincoln township and is also a shareholder in the Ellis Farmers' Grain Elevator. She is a member of the Methodist church, and she and her husband donated to the Methodists of Ellis the lots for the erection of their house of worship. They were also very zealous in the organizing of the church and always gave liberally of their means in the support of church work.
The Prohibition party received the support of Mr. Rathbun's vote. In his early years the Republican party had received his vote, but he realized that the prohibition principles were of high value to the community and the coun- try and gave to it his staunch allegiance. He was affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
DAVID M. BINDERNAGEL is an ener- getic farmer living in Lincoln township. He is interested in the breeding of Duroc-Jersey hogs and is known through the county as the man who took first and second prizes on his Duroc-Jersey sows which he exhibited at the Gage county fair. He also was awarded a silver cup for the best litter of pigs. He has made a specialty of breeding Duroc-Jersey swine since 1914 and has a strain of hogs that has taken national prizes.
Mr. Bindernagel is a native Gage county boy, and was born in Section 36, Blakely town- ship, November 10, 1876. His parents, Philip and Margaret (Marshall) Bindernagel, reside in the city of Beatrice, and are specifically mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Bindernagel received his education in the rural school of his district and attended the high school at Beatrice for a short time. His farming operations for himself began in 1907, when he rented his present farm from his father. He has made improvements, in- cluding the erection of a modern house and good barns. At the present time he is farm- ing one hundred and ninety acres of land - one hundred and sixty acres from his father's estate and thirty acres from that of his father- in-law, Harvey O. Mason.
March 6, 1912, David M. Bindernagel mar-
1057
HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
ried Miss Gertrude M. Mason, who was born July 23, 1890, in Lincoln township, this county. She is a daughter of Harvey O. Mason, whose personal and family record is given on other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Binder- nagel have one child, Marjorie Rose, born March 4, 1913.
The school directors of his district feel themselves fortunate to have Mr. Bindernagel on their board. He has served a number of times as road overseer. In politics he is a Re- publican, and he and his wife are communi- cants of the Trinity Lutheran church.
GEORGE BAKER. - The story of what has been accomplished by George Baker dur- ing nearly forty years of residence in Gage county demonstrates that Nebraska is still a region of opportunities. From a boy witlı twenty-five dollars in his pocket to the status of a citizen owning two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, is a summary of the life and achievement of Mr. Baker. His fine landed estate is located in Gage and Jefferson counties and all of the land is under intensive and effective cultivation, his home farm being in Elm township, Gage county.
George Baker was born in the state of Michigan and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Hable) Baker, both natives of Germany. John Baker was born in the year 1827 and upon immigrating from Germany to the United States he settled in Michigan. In Berrien county, that state, he wedded Mrs. Elizabeth (Hable) Neice, who was born in Grossbeck, Germany, March 27, 1830, and whose first marriage was solemnized in her native land. As the wife of Mr. Neice she became the mother of three children - William and Peter Neice, of Gage county, Nebraska, and Mary, who is the wife of George Rynerson, of South Dakota. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Neice became a resident of Berrien county, Michigan, where, as above noted, she became the wife of John Baker. Under crude conditions John Baker thereafter conducted farming operations in Michigan, of which state he was a pioneer. He died in 1887 and George, subject of this sketch, is his only son.
George Baker was born on his father's farm in Berrien county, Michigan, August 3, 1865, and left the parental roof when he was four- teen years of age. In 1879 he came to Gage county, Nebraska, where he lived with his two half-brothers, William and Peter Neice. In 1888 Mr. Baker rented eighty acres of land upon which the plow of man had never turned a furrow. He rented this tract from his mother, who had purchased it after her hus- band's death. It was on this farm that Mr. Baker suffered all of the labors, hardships, and privations which gave him the experience to become a good farmer. He built a small house and bought a team to break the land. The second year of his stay he had eighty acres planted in corn, and the yield was only one-half bushel of corn. In the succeeding winter he had to borrow money to buy corn for his horses. The following year he put in his crop again, expecting mother nature to yield a good crop, and she did. He made his start with his herd of cattle by taking hay to the markets at Beatrice and exchanging it for six head of calves. Thus, little by little, was the foundation laid for success and the ac- cumulating of his broad acres and well im- proved home. Mr. Baker's mother kept house for him for twelve years, spending her last days in his home, where her death occurred in 1908.
June 13, 1894, Mr. Baker married Miss Emma Dewey, and they have three children: Harry, born January 27, 1897; Nellie, born January 31, 1903 ; and Hattie, born April 28, 1908. The children are all at home with their parents. Mrs. Emma Baker was born on a farm near Roseville, Illinois. She is one of the five daughters born to I. B. and Mary J. (Sponge) Dewey. Her father was born October 12, 1837, in Jefferson county, New York. He was a veteran of the Civil war, in which he served three years and three months in defense of his country's integrity. After the war he followed agricultural pursuits until his retirement to a home in Beatrice, in 1895. Mr. Dewey came to Nebraska in 1880, and his death occurred December 7, 1910, at Hutchin- son, Kansas. He was a second cousin of Ad-
1058
HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
miral Dewey, of Spanish-American war fame. His wife, Mrs. Mary (Sponge) Dewey, was born December 9, 1839, in Anderson county, Indiana.
Mrs. Emma (Dewey) Baker was educated in the Fairbury public schools and at one time she was a pupil of Dr. Hepperlen, of Beatrice, when he taught the rural school near Ply- mouth, Nebraska. Mr. Baker is a Republi- can and loyally supports the party ticket. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a shareholder of the grain elevators located at Diller and Harbine, Ne- braska.
HENRY W. EHMEN, who is one of the progressive agriculturists and stock-raisers of Hanover township, is here the owner of a half section of land, all in one body, and the three hundred and twenty acres, in Sections 27 and 28, constitute one of the model farms of the county.
Mr. Ehmen was born in Adams county, Illi- nois, July 22, 1866, a son of William and Ehmke (Johnson) Ehmen, both natives of . Germany, where the former was born May 25, 1845, and the latter on the 19th of September, 1841, their marriage having been solemnized at Golden, Adams county, Illinois, and Mrs. Ehmen having been a young woman when she came from Germany to the United States. William Ehmen was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents to America and was reared to manhood in the state of Illinois. There he continued his active association with farming until 1869, when he came with his family to Gage county and numbered himself among the pioneer farmers of Hanover town- ship, where he developed a good farm and where he continued to reside until his death, February 14, 1906. His widow remains with her son Jolin on the old homestead, she being a devout communicant of the Lutheran church, as was also her husband. Of their six children Henry W. of this review, is the eld- est ; Trinke became the wife of Wilke T. Jur- gens and her death occurred several years ago; Minnie is the wife of Harm DeBuhr, of Han- over township; Jennie is the widow of John
W. Parde and resides in Hanover township; Ida is the wife of Bernard H. Siefkes, of whom mention is made on other pages; and John has the management of his father's old home farm.
Henry W. Ehmen was three and one-half years of age at the time of the family removal to Gage county, and here he was reared on the pioneer farm, the while he made proper use of the advantages afforded in the district schools of Hanover township. His father ac- cumulated a large landed estate and when the subject of this review was twenty-six years of age he purchased of his father a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. On the place was a primitive house, fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions, and this Mr. Ehmen remodeled and equipped as his original domicile. He now has on the farm a large and modern house, besides other excellent farm buildings that likewise indicate his thrift and progres- siveness. His political support is given to the Republican party and he and his wife are active members of the Lutheran church.
In 1892 Mr. Ehmen wedded Miss Tina Parde, daughter of William and Theda Parde, residents of Hanover township. Mrs. Ehmen was born at Golden, Adams county, Illinois, and was thirteen years old when the family came to Gage county. Mr. and Mrs. Ehmen became the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living: Tete is the wife of Henry F. Schuster, of Logan Township; and Wil- liam, Katie, Henry, Minnie, Grace and John remain at the parental home.
FRED W. FRISBIE. - The Frisbie fam- ily has kept a record of the family tree from the beginnings of their family in the New World, when Edward Frisbie, a native of Den- mark, traversed the seas in the latter part of the seventeenth century to cast his lot with the colonists in America. This family here established itself in the early history of this nation and has taken an active part in the up- building of its industrial and civil institutions.
Fred W. Frisbie, a descendant of this long line of American ancestors, was born April 8, 1875, in Cook county, Illinois. He is a son of
1059
HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM EHMEN
1060
HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
William and Libbie (Peet) Frisbie, who have been prominently identified with the agricul- tural and social life of Elm township, Gage county, Nebraska. William Frisbie is a son of Frederick and Polly (Ludington) Frisbie, who were natives of New York and moved to Lorain county, Ohio, in 1843. Later they re- moved to Cook county, Illinois, following agricultural pursuits in both of these states. Frederick Frisbie was married three times, and his third wife, Polly (Ludington) Frisbie, was the mother of William Frisbie. These good people were laid to rest in Cook county, Illinois. Their son William was born Novem- ber 21, 1827, at Hannibal, New York, and shared with them their migrations to Ohio and Illinois. November 9, 1852, he married Mary Ann Smith, to whom no children were born, and whose death occurred many years ago. The marriage of William Frisbie and Libbie Peet was solemnized September 13, 1870, in Cook county, Illinois. Six children were born of this union, and three of the num- ber are living, namely: Albert, residing in Elm township, Gage county; William, living in Jefferson county, near Diller ; and Fred W., the subject of this sketch. The three deceased are Charles, Marguerite, and Emma. Emma was the wife of Elmer Greider and left two children.
William Frisbie farmed in Cook county, Illinois, many years and there accumulated a considerable acreage of fertile land. In 1878 or 1879 he made several trips through Kansas and Nebraska, looking for a new location for a home, and in 1883 he moved to Elm town- ship, Gage county, upon the portion of land that suited him better than any other lands he had investigated. A small one-room house ac- commodated his family in those early years, but as prosperity smiled upon him he added to the original structure, which is situated on the old trail running northeast and southwest from Beatrice to Diller. Mr. Frisbie's last days were spent in this home and he was called to his reward April 8, 1906, the birth anniver- sary of his son Fred W., subject of this sketch. His wife, Mrs. Libbie (Peet) Fris-
bie, was born in Sullivan, Ohio, May 20, 1844, and died May 12, 1903.
Fred W. Frisbie is now farming the old homestead, of which he came into possession in 1905. He has spent the greater part of his life on this farm and is conducting a general farming business. He has high-grade Short- horn cattle and Duroc-Jersey and Hampshire hogs. He has made improvements on the farm, building two new barns, a silo, and a hay barn.
December 24, 1901, Fred W. Frisbie mar- ried Miss Zaidee Dowling, who was born May 11, 1882, in Scott county, Iowa. Her par- ents, James C. and Mary W. (Madden) Dowling, were born in London, England, and Iowa, respectively. Mr. Dowling was a farm- er in Iowa for many years but in 1881 he and his wife went to Colorado, where they spent their remaining days. After their death, their daughter Zaidee came to live with her maternal grandfather, Henry Madden. After finishing her education she taught school until her marriage to Mr. Frisbie. Of this union have been born six children, all remaining at home with their parents. They are: Ralph, Nellie, Leonard, Donald, Norman D., and Helen Elizabeth, the last named having been born March 28, 1918.
The politics of Mr. Frisbie are in accord with the principles of the Republican party, lie is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.
JOHN E. ANDERSON. - Sweden is a land of long, cold winters and short, cool sum- mers, where the fjords and glaciers combined with the mountains make a scenery pictur- esque and grand. It is not the grandeur of Italy with its sunshine and flowers but the grandeur of nature in its sterner moods. From this land of Sweden has come the man whose name heads this review, and he was born May 13, 1862. His father, Andrew An- derson, was a mechanic and carpenter and lived his life in his native northland, as did also his wife, who was called to eternal rest
1061
HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
when her son John E., of this sketch, was a lad of seven years. Although he had no mother to guide and comfort him, the lad's father was both mother and father to him. Of the seven children, three are living in Gage county, namely : Anton, who is farming in Elm township; Charles, who makes his home with his brother Anton; and John, who is the subject of this review. Peter, Amanda, and Tilda (a widow) are still in Sweden.
In 1882 John. E. Anderson took passage upon an ocean liner for the United States and upon his arrival he worked in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. A portion of the following year he spent in railroad construction work in Michigan, and also, from Odell, Nebraska, he assisted in the construction of the railroad line running south into Kansas. After this work was finished he was employed by John Fitzgerald, on his ranch, which is now owned by Frank Hubka. For the munificent sum of twenty dollars a month, he built fences, hauled lumber, helped in the building of the house, barn, etc., besides breaking wild prairie land.
November 28, 1889, John E. Anderson mar- ried Elizabeth Kroschewski, who was born in Germany, in 1868, and who made the journey to this country with an older sister, in 1884. They came directly to Gage county, where both married. The older sister is Mrs. Witt- kowski. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born eight children all of whom are under the parental roof - Charles H., Bertha, Mary, Amanda, Alice, Martha, Cecelia, and Orin J.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ander- son worked for three years for David Fitz- gerald, the former as a laborer and the latter in the home. After leaving this employment, Mr. Anderson rented land in Elm and Sicily townships. In 1899 he rented one hundred and sixty acres of land in Section 1, Elm town- ship and in 1901 he purchased the same, this place having since continued to be the family home. At the time when Mr. Johnson pur- chased this land it did not seem a very prom- ising investment, with its cockle-burrs, sun- flowers, etc. But the years have passed and Mr. Anderson has won the land to fertility
and profitable productiveness. Mr. Ander- son's family are of the Catholic faith and he is a supporter of the political principles of the Republican party.
ROBERT S. JONES was born in Gage county, Nebraska, November 7, 1882, record of the family history appearing in the sketch of John S. Jones, elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Jones was educated in the district schools of Gage county and the Wymore high school. He has always followed farming. On September 5, 1906, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Ella A. Jones, who was born at Barrett, Kansas, a daughter of O. R. and Amanda Jones. O. R. Jones came to Gage county many years ago and at one time owned the land on which the town of Wymore now stands. Several years ago he sold his Gage county land and moved to Kansas, where he owned fifteen hundred acres of land, and where his death occurred in 1913. His widow still makes her home in that state.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Jones are the par- ents of four children whose names and respec- tive ages, in 1918, are here noted: Kenneth, eight years ; Gertrude, six years ; Willard, four years; and Elizabeth, two years. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist church. He is a Mason, and in politics is a Republican. Mr. Jones has served on the school board for six years. He is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Barneston township, and sixty acres near Wy- more, where he makes his home. Mr. Jones does a general farming business, raises cattle and live stock of all kinds, and buys and ships stock. He has made a success of life, and is one of Gage county's prosperous farmers.
HURAM LACY. - With no unusual ad- vantages at the beginning of and no spectac- ular phases during his career, Huram Lacy has reached the goal of success and is to-day one of the men of affairs in Gage county. His natal day was April 25, 1850, and the place of his birth was in the ferry house at Daven- port, Iowa, on the ground where Colonel
1062
HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
MR. AND MRS. HURAM LACY
1063
HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Davenport lived and where his murder oc- curred on July 4, 1845.
Mr. Lacy's father, Huram Lacy, Sr., was a native of Kentucky and became a river man on the Mississippi. At the time of the birth of his son he was operating a ferry at Daven- port. His death occurred in Henry county, Iowa, in 1857. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Anna Workman and she was a native of Tennessee. After the death of her husband she and her children became residents of Kansas, and in 1863 they came to Richardson county, Nebraska. Her last days were spent at the home of her son John near Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Huram Lacy, the subject of this review, spent his boyhood days in Kansas and Ne- braska, and at the age of twenty-one years he became a farmer in Richardson county, Ne- braska. In 1877 Mr. Lacy came to Gage county and purchased eighty acres of unim- proved Indian land, in Section 2, Paddock township, and on March 4, 1878, he located on this farm, which has since continued the stage of his activities. His first home was a small frame shanty now used for the shelter of stock. His present commodious frame house is among the best in the township. Mr. Lacy is the owner of three hundred and six acres of valuable land, -an evidence of his success in his chosen calling.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.