History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 102

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011

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and was finally taken in as a partner, the firm being Hagge & Stolley. The concern had the largest and best trade in Davenport, and was very successful for a time, but on ac- count of the financial crisis of 1857 was forced to assign. Though much money was owing them, they were unable to collect the larger part of it, and Mr. Stolley was thus placed under a debt of ten thousand dollars, which he afterwards spent ten years of hard labor, privation and self-denial to liquidate. That year a party consisting of congressmen and bankers in Washington, D. C., decided to form a colony along the Platte valley some- where in Nebraska. This plan was carried out, and Mr. Stolley became sole organizer of the colony, taking an active part in looking after the welfare of the little band which settled on the site of the present city of Grand Island. The capitalists who were the promot- ers of the colony, under the lead of a Mr. Barrows, furnished six thousand dollars for the support of the colonists until they could raise a crop and establish themselves in bus- iness. This money was to be repaid to the company, each man of the colony agreeing to pay his share. The terms of the contract did not provide any money for clothing, and when winter set in great suffering threatened the little band unless they could receive aid. A delegate, Fred Hedde, was therefore sent to Mr. Barrows to secure from him five hun- dred dollars additional to be used in the pur- chase of clothing and blankets. The request was refused, but upon Mr. Stolley's agreeing to become personally responsible for the amount, Mr. Barrows drew his personal check for five hundred dollars, and the colony was provided with warm clothing for the winter. Mr. Stolley was afterwards released from this obligation, the company losing the whole sum which they had advanced, six thousand five hundred dollars, only three men paying their obligation. In 1857 Mr. Stolley took one hundred sixty acres as a squatter's claim in the vicinity of Grand Island, and later pre- empted it, which was the first claim entered in Hall County. Here he shared in all the hardships and privations incident to the early days and by perseverance and the exercise of good judgment became one of the sub- stantial men of the county. During the grass- hopper scourge of 1874, he was delegated to go to Washington to seek aid for the suffering and succeeded in securing one hundred fifty thousand dollars for the relief of the people of this section of Nebraska. Through per- sonal appeal to Mr. Jay Gould he secured free transportation over the railroads for the ship-

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ment of all goods sent to Nebraska. The parents of Mr. and Mrs. Stolley were teachers in the old country, and realizing the experi- ences they had, led Mr. Stolley to take great interest in the public school system of the county. He helped to organize school district No. 1 and served as a director for forty years. He travelled all over the state organizing the State Grange and became master of the same. He always advocated the planting of trees and had much to do with the furthering of arboriculture in the state. In former years he distributed vast numbers of seedling trees best adapted to the soil and climate of Nebraska, and they now present themselves in little groves, dotting the once barren and treeless plains. The beautiful orchard and shade trees on his own farm are the result of years of patient labor in planting and caring for the same by himself and his sons. The first Eng- lish sparrows in this section were twenty-five Mr. Stolley carried from New York City to his farm. He was a lover of bees and had as many as sixty stands at one time. The cannon now in the court house grounds was donated by Mr. Stolley, who secured it through a noted general in recognition of the excellence of old Fort Independence, which was located on Mr. Stolley's farm.

July 15, 1856, at Davenport, Iowa, Mr. Stolley married Miss Wilhelmina Fredericka Hagge, who was born in the same province as her husband, April 21, 1837, and came to America on the same vessel that brought her future husband to America. They became the parents of ten children : Frederick, a suc- cessful farmer and stockman of Hall County ; Anna, is the wife of Emil Leonardt, residents of Cuero, Texas; Minnie, is the wife of Oscar Roeser, of Grand Island; William, is a res- ident of Dowagiac, Michigan; Emil, is en- gaged in farming in Hall County; Auguste and Richard, are deceased; Clara and Ottilie, are unmarried and reside with their mother, and Olga, the wife of J. C. Palmer of Grand Island.

This pioneer family were here at a time when the older children had for their play- mates the Indians. William Stolley was always on friendly terms with the red man and learned to speak their langauge quite fluently, and in a history of Hall County which he wrote in 1907, will be found many Indian names which he translated into the English language.

Of the noble men of Hall County who have passed to their reward, who made sacrifices and did deeds to make the county a better place in which to live than when they found it,

no name stands out more distinctly than that of William Stolley. And while we are paying tribute to him we must not forget the partner of his life's joys and sorrows, who, if her life be spared till September, 1919, will have lived in Hall County more than half a century. We take pleasure in presenting the life record of such noble men and women and trust their life record will serve as an inspiration to future generations.

GEORGE ALEXANDER DOVE, engaged in the mercantile business in Cairo, has made his home in Nebraska for many years, always finding here many of the good things of life, and in the main, intelligent, prosperous and centented people as associate citizens.

George A. Dove was born in Allen County, Ohio, May 8, 1856. His parents were Reuben and Elmira (Creps) Dove. The father was born in Virginia and remained there until eighteen years of age, when he went to Ohio, engaged there in farming and stockraising, and died there in 1861. Although not able to enter the Union army at the outbreak of the Civil War, he was so patriotically active in soliciting volunteers, that he brought on an illiness that terminated fatally. He was an ardent Republican, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and belonged to the order of Odd Fellows. The mother of George A. Dove was born in Ohio and died there in 1892. Of the family of four children, George A. is one of the two survivors, the other being Mrs. Inez Brown, who lives in Ohio.

George A. Dove had educational advantages, first in the excellent schools of Westminster, Ohio, and later in a college in Adrian, Michi- gan. The death of his father placed responsi- bilities on him very early, and he was only six. teen years old when he began farming for himself. He remained in Ohio until the fall of 1879, when he removed to De Witt County, Illinois, where he resumed agricultural pursuits and continued until the fall of 1889, when he came to Hall County, Nebraska, to buy land, and since that time this state has been his preferred home. In the spring of 1908 he went to Morrill County, where he invested in land, which he still owns, and remained on the same until 1916, when he came to Cairo. Here he embarked in a general mercantile business and has built up a trade that is entirely satis- factory, keeping his unusually varied stock attractively arranged and selling it according to honorable business methods.

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marriage with Miss Callie Slick, the only seurviving child of Thomas H. and Hannah (Monnett) Slick. Mrs. Dove had one sister, Minnie. Both parents of Mrs. Dove were born and reared in Ohio. Her father was a farmer, a merchant, a banker, and was quite promi- nent in Republican politics in his locality. Mr. and Mrs. Dove have the following children : Laura, the wife of Howard Hulett; Walter V., married Anna Scanlon ; Claude H., married Catherine Stahl; Cassius N, married Esther Glau; and Earl W., resides with his par- ents. Mr. Dove has always been in sym- pathy politically with the Republican party but has never desired to accept official responsibili- ties, although at all times being ready to co- operate with his fellow citizens in matters of public moment. He is conscientious in his support of worthy charities. He and his fam- ily belong to the Methodist Episcopal church.

RUDOLPH GUHL, one of Grand Island's well known and highly respected retired busi- ness men, has been a resident of this city for thirty-six years and knows its history by heart. In a business way he has been intimately asso- ciated with its best citizenship and on friendly terms with its most distinguished men. His reminiscences of earlier people and events are authentic and interesting.

Rudolph Guhl was born October 25, 1847, near Luet Kenwisch, Wittenberg, Germany. His parents were John J. and Elsabe (Sten- del) Guhl, the father a native of Germany and the mother of France. The father's busi- ness was farming but undoubtedly he was a man of superiority because he served as mayor of his city for forty years, and had other official duties. Both parents died in Germany. Of their three children, William died in Ger- many; Mrs. Wilhelmina Heinrich still lives in Germany, while Rudolph resides in Grand Island. He attended school in Germany be- fore coming to the United States in 1864, landing on June 24. The following five years he lived with his brother-in-law, at Cincinnati, Ohio, working as a cigarmaker and barber. In 1883 he came to Grand Island, and for fifteen years was employed by John Zink, then embarked .in business for himself, which he conducted until 1918, when he retired.

In Toledo, Ohio, October 1, 1872, Mr. Guhl married Miss Ottelia Linenfelzer, born April 6, 1855, at Oesteringen, Baden, Germany. Her parents were Pius and Paulina (Milch) Linenfelzer, who settled in Monroe County, Michigan, after coming to the United States. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Guhl:

Annie, the wife of Horace Jones, of Omaha ; Louisa, the wife of Wallace Quest, of Upton, New York ; Arthur, who resides with his fam- ily in Toledo, Ohio; Minnie, the wife of Otis B. Mills, of South Dakota; William, living at Horton, Kansas, married Emma Hohenstine; and Ellen, the wife of George Gaver, lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Guhl are active members of the English Lutheran church in Grand Is- land, and Mrs. Guhl is a member of the De- gree of Honor lodge. In politics Mr. Guhl is a Republican.

FRANK EUGENE BLAUVELT. - Per- haps no family at Cairo is better known in business circles or more highly respected than the Blauvelts, who are substantial people here. The head of the family, Frank E. Blauvelt, is prospering as a producing merchant, while Mrs. Blauvelt and their competent daughters, own and operate a first class restaurant and confectionery store. Mr. Blauvelt has spent almost his entire life in Nebraska.

Frank Eugene Blauvelt was born in Jones .County, Iowa, April, 15, 1871. His parents were Elijah S. and Elizabeth (Horton) Blau- velt, natives of New York, both of whom are deceased, the father died in Nuckolls County, Nebraska, February 11, 1902, and the mother at Hardy, Nebraska, September 1, 1898. They had eight children and of the six surviving Frank E. is the only one living in Hall County. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father was a Demo- crat in his political opinions. By trade he was a bricklayer. Before moving to Iowa he served three years in the Union army during the Civil War. Although he was never wounded or taken prisoner, he had many thrilling escapes. On one occasion while driving an army am- bulance, he was closely pursued for twelve miles by a guerilla band, and when he at last reached safety at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, three of his four horses fell dead. In 1873 Elijah S. Blauvelt came to Nebraska, home- steaded and secured a tree claim in Franklin County, living on his 320 acres for six years. After one year he engaged in work at his trade, in Blommington, then moved to Nuckolls County, where, during the rest of his life he was engaged mainly in brick mason work and farming.

Frank E. Blauvelt was nine years old when his parents moved to Nuckolls County, where he. later had common school advantages. He remembers very well the wild conditions that prevailed in those early days there, and relates many exceedingly interesting occurrences. In-

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dians were very often seen and deer and huffalo were so numerous that Mr. Blauvelt, in describing the droves of deer, can think of nothing better to compare them to, as they rushed over the prairies, than the rough waves of a great sea. Sometimes these wild creatures, both antelope and buffalo, would seemingly try to escape from civilized surroundings, but occasionally they would be tempted into some settler's barnyard and trouble would inevitably ensue. Mr. Blauvelt recalls an occasion when he was young, when his father had gone to town, a distance away, for provisions, his mother being left with the task of doing the evening "chores." When she went about these duties she found a buffalo among the herd of domestic catttle. As soon as she advanced the wild animal would threat- en her and finally she used the usual distress signal to her neighbors, running up a white flag. This brought speedy assistance and the buffalo was killed.

After Mr. Blauvelt left the farm he went to Custer County to engage in the harness and saddlery business at Callaway, continuing there until 1916, when he came to Cairo. He recog -. nized this a promising business point, estab- lishing a produce line, in which he has greatly prospered, at present doing a $15,000 annual business.

On December 24, 1895, Mr. Blauvelt united in marriage Miss Marie A. Minnich, in Tren- ton, Missouri. Her parents, Henry and Margaret (Eakin) Minnich, settled in Nuck- olls County, Nebraska, in 1878 and bought school land. In 1895 they moved to Missouri but two years later returned to Nuckolls County, where the father died in 1899, and the mother at Casper, Wyoming, in 1918. Of their six children, Mrs. Blauvelt is the only one liv- ing in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Blauvelt have the following children : Ercel M., Sybil, Thelma, Nyleptha, Zane and Daphne, all of the daughters residing at home. The only son, Ercel M., who did a hero's part as a member of the American Expeditionary Force in France, has recently returned to his native land and is under treatment in an army hos- pital in Virginia. The family attend the Metho- dist Episcopal church.

EDWARD DODD, M. D. - Although Dr. Dodd has been a resident of Cairo only a short time, he has already gained the con- fidence and esteem of the community through personal characteristics as well as professional ability, and the hope is openly expressed that this little city will be his permanent home.

Dr. Dodd came here in 1918 with years of pro- fessional experience back of him, having spent fifteen in active practice in other sections of Nebraska.

Edward Dodd was born in Appanoose County, Iowa, August 8, 1878, the second born in a family of six children. His parents were William L. and Eda (Hinkle) Dodd, both of whom were born in Iowa, where the father of Dr. Dodd was a farmer until 1905, when he removed to White Tail, Montana, and there he engaged in ranching until his death, in 1915. He was a man of sturdy character, a Republican in politics and a member of the Masonic fraternity. With his wife he be- longed to the Methodist Episcopal church. She still resides in Montana. They had the following children: Amy L., the wife of F. E. Porter, of Putnam County, Missouri; Edward, a resident of Cairo; Luther, who resides with his mother; Orpha G., deceased, and Elmer and Eva, twins, who reside at home.

Edward Dodd attended the public schools of Centerville, Iowa, and after completing his high school course, became a student of medicine in Keokuk, Iowa, and subsequently was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in that city. During his college course he had the great advantage of being under the immediate teaching of the cele- brated Dr. C. E. Ruth, for one year being his assistant in anaesthesia, and for another year being his surgical assistant. For three years Dr. Dodd engaged in practice as a member of the staff of St. Joseph's Hospital, Keokuk, being an instructor for one year in the nurses' training school as lecturer on sanitation, gynecology and obstetrics. After leaving Keokuk Dr. Dodd practiced his profession in Nebraska from 1903 until August, 1918, when he located at Cairo. For one year he served as chairman of the Howard County Medical Society, and for seven years he was district surgeon for the Union Pacific Railroad. In addition to a general medical and surgical practice, Dr. Dodd is an experienced optician.

Dr. Dodd married June 27, 1906, Miss Mary Rae Jones, a daughter of Charles W. and Elizabeth (Irion) Jones, the former of whom was born in Northampton, England, and the latter near Princeton, Illinois. They are people of prominence in Knox County, Ne- braska. Dr. and Mrs. Dodd have three chil- dren : Phyllis W., Donald F., and Daniel E. Dr. Dodd has been active in all patriotic move- ments during the past few years and in 1917 he volunteered for the World War in his pro- fessional capacity, but was not accepted for

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active service because of physical disability. In no sense a politician, nevertheless he keeps thoroughly abreast of the times in public affairs and has the courage of his convicitions.

WILLIAM STOEGER, a well known and most highly respected citizen of Cairo, is also one of Hall County's heaviest land owners, and individually with his brothers he has valu- able holdings in other sections. He has built up his ample fortune through farming and stockraising.

William Stoeger was born March 30, 1860, in Hendricks County, Indiana, the third mem- ber of a family of eight children born to his parents, John and Mary (Billmeyer) Stoeger, both of whom were born in Germany and came to the United States in 1854 and 1852 respectively. At the time of their marriage, the mother of Mr. Stoeger was the widow Kemptar with two sons, Lawrence and Charles, both of whom are deceased. To her second marriage, to John Stoeger, besides William the following children were born: Philip, who lives near Cairo, Nebraska; John who lives near St. Michael, Nebraska; Mary, who is deceased; Elizabeth who is deceased; Frank, who is deceased; Henry, who formerly lived on the timber claim his father bought in Hall County, now a resident of Cairo; and Adam, who lives at St. Michael. The mother of this family was a remarkable woman in many ways. She survived her husband and three children and at the time of her death on September 22, 1918, lacked but one month and eight days of being ninety-three three years of age. To the very last she retained her mental faculties and physically was more active than many whe were much younger.

John Stoeger, father of William, was a tanner by trade and he followed this work in Terre Haute, Indiana, from 1854 until 1862, when he removed to Crawford County, Illinois, and for the next ten years engaged there in the same business. In 1872 this businss, as a private enterprise, had become less profit- able and he sold out and moved to near Russellville, Illinois, where he engaged in farming and raising stock until the summer of 1879. In the meanwhile the second son, John, and the second daughter, Elizabeth, had developed signs of ill health that the anxious parents believed a change of climate would dis- sipate and that was the reason that the farm and stock were sold in Illinois and the family started on the long overland journey to Ne- braska. Before they reached there, however, Elizabeth died. When Mr. Stoeger came to

Hall County he bought a timber claim of John L. Means, which adjoins the town site of Cairo. In the spring of 1892 he sold his homestead and timber claims to his sons and moved then into Cairo and lived retired until his death, which occurred February 22, 1906. He was a man of sterling character, honest and upright in all his dealings and a faithful member of the Evangelical church. His wife belonged to the Roman Catholic church. He was a Democrat in politics and frequently was elected to township offices.

William Stoeger obtained his education in Illinois and worked for his father until he was twenty years old and afterward up to the summer of 1882, on other farms, the general wage being $17 a month. In the spring of 1883, in partnership with his brother John, he bought a flock of sheep and the partner- ship in sheep raising and farming continued for four years and then was dissolved, William continuing alone as a farmer until 1892 when the four brothers in partnership bought the father's land, he having acquired and improved a large acreage, and they carried on farming and ranching together until 1900, when two of the brothers withdrew. The other two, one of whom was William, continued until 1906, when the property was all divided. William then carried on his ranch interests alone for a number of years, selling the last of his horses in the fall of 1918, when he rented the ranch and retired to Cairo. He owns more than 2,000 acres of land and the Stoeger brothers together own several thousand more acres in the state. Additionally, Mr. Stoeger owns land and town property in Texas; he is a stockholder in the Ravenna (Nebraska) State Bank, and is on the directing board of the Cairo State Bank.

On November 14, 1898, Mr. Stoeger mar- ried in Cairo, Miss Mary Feldmayer, daughter of William and Anna (Lepold) Feldmayer, who were pioneers in Buffalo County, Ne- braska, in 1882, and died on their farm in Garfield township. Mr. Stoeger is a prominent Democrat and served two terms as assessor of South Loup township and for the past ten years has been supervisor. He is a past grand in the Cairo lodge of Odd Fellows. He has had many ranching experiences and lost many cattle in the great storm that came upon this section in January, 1888.

EDWARD H. BAKER, engaged in the con- crete construction business in Grand Island, belongs to an old Nebraska family and was born at Columbus, Nebraska, July July 2, 187 Digitized by

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His parents were Edward H. and Zilda (Seni- cal) Baker, the former of whom was born at White Pigeon, Michigan, and the latter in Montreal, Canada.

The earliest member of the Baker family in Nebraska, was an uncle of Edward H. Baker of Grand Island, who settled on Silver Creek in 1858, when his nearest neighbor was seventeen miles away. Mr. Baker's father came to Platte County, Nebraska, in 1866, but his mother had located in the city of Omaha in 1853. She died November 16, 1906. Prior to the Civil War, the elder Edward H. Baker lived in St. Joseph County, Michigan. He enlisted in the Union army, August 30, 1862, at Freeport, Illinois, and served three years, being mustered out as corporal of his company, June 19, 1865. His company, locally known as "Young's Lions," was detailed when the war closed for such important work as taking charge of supplies and of Confederate paroled prisoners. When he came to Platte County in the following year, he homesteaded and lived on his one hundred and sixty acres until June 18, 1887, when he came to Hall County, which remained his home until his death which occurred February 27, 1916. For the last eleven years of his life he had been engineer for the Soldiers and Sailors Home. In politics he was a Republican, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. Of their seven children, six are living. Edward H. is the youngest. The others are: Mrs. R. G. Isdell, who lives in Grand Island; Alfred J., who resides in Grand Island, is agent for the American Beet Sugar Company; Mrs. Frank Smock, of Colorado Springs; Mrs. A. J. Knipe, who lives at Seattle, Washington; and Ray R., with a medical unit in the American army in France.

Edward H. Baker attended the public schools of Grand Island. Upon finishing his education he started to work in a concrete construction business. After nine years in the employ of others, Mr. Baker established a con- cern of his own in 1905, and has done well, usually keeping six men employed. He has built up a trustworthy reputation that extends all over Hall County.

At Wood River, Nebraska, December 7, 1904, Mr. Baker married Miss Mary J. Nelson, a daughter of Sylvester and Amanda J. (Hargis) Nelson, who came to Hall County in 1887 and lived in Wood River. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have five children; Mrs. Bert Miller, who lives at Elm Creek ; Mary J., who is Mrs. Baker; Olivene, wife of J. Ven Roberts of Florida; Oscar E., a soldier in France, a member of Company C, 318

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 102

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co. Number of Pages: 1011

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011