History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 108

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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1906. He had survived the mother of Mr. Herman since 1899. Of their family of six children, the following are living: John and Fred, in Grand Island; Henry, in Wyoming ; Peter, in Hall County, and William, in Hall County. The father was an American citizen and gave his political support to the Demo- cratic party. Both parents belonged to the Lutheran church.

Peter Herman was a babe in his mother's arms when his parents came to the United States. He obtained his schooling in Hall County and afterward assisted his father on the home farm as long as he was needed, when he began farming on his own account. His farm has been well stocked and all his in- dustries here are carried on with the care and good judgment that assures success. The farmer of today is justly accounted one of the country's most important men and in the record of production that Nebraska is making, a great deal of credit may be given the sensi- ble, hard-working farmers and stockmen of Hall County, Mr. Herman being one of these. He has devoted himself closely to his business. He has never been very active in politics, cast- ing his ballot as an independent voter.

On February 11, 1891, Mr. Herman mar- ried Miss Delia Dibbern, a daughter of Jochem and Margaret (Weise) Dibbern, early settlers in the county who are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Herman have the following children, who have had every advantage their parents could give them: Edith, the wife of Bernie Schimmer; Albert, who assists his father ; Linda, the wife of Henry Meyer; Edna, the wife of Arthur Knuth, and Martha, Josephine, Olga, Harry, Ernest and Mildred, all of whom live at home; and one who is deceased. Mr. Herman and his family are members of the Lutheran church.

JULIUS MATTHIESEN, a prosperous farmer of Washington township, belongs to one of the oldest pioneer families of Hall County. He was born at Davenport, Iowa, March 29, 1863, a son of Frederick and Anna (Hansen) Matthiesen. The first wife of Fred- erick Matthiesen died during the voyage from Germany to the United States. They had two children, one of whom is living, Margaret, the widow of Frederick Lillenthal.

In 1857 Frederick Matthiesen married Anna Hansen and they had seven children. The fol- lowing are living: Julius, who has lived in Hall County since 1866; Laura, the wife of Bernhard Ewoldt, near Sand Krog; Ernest, a farmer south of Grand Island, married Dora

Ewoldt; and Anna, the wife of Frederick Schoel. For ten years after coming to the United States, Frederick Matthiesen con- ducted an express business in Davenport. From there he came to Hall County in 1866 and homesteaded in section 34, Washington township, south of Grand Island, where he resided until his death, which occurred June 14, 1914. His widow survives, being now in her eighty-seventh year. He was a member of the Lutheran church and in politics was a Democrat.

Julius Matthiesen was three years old when his people settled in Hall County in the spring of 1866. His school adavntages were rather meager for several reasons, one being the lack of easy school facilities, and the other that he was needed by his father on the farm. Among his recollections of early days the Indians play a prominent part for there were many of them in Hall County at that time. When the hunting season came on he has watched them pass by the hundred on their way to the Platte River. He sometimes played with the Indian children, who were much like other children except they were always hungry and if food was not given in answer to their begging, they would boldly steal it. These Indians were mostly the peaceable Pawnees, but he remembers one occasion when the savage Sioux came down in a raid from the North, killed several white people and carried two girls off with them, but the girls were rescued by the soldiers from Fort Kearny. He remained with his father until he was almost twenty-five years old before engaging in agricultural pursuits on the farm he now owns, which comprises one hundred and eigthy-eight acres. It is well stocked and finely improved. He has been very successful in his farming operations and is ranked with the substantial men of his township.

On February 1, 1889, Mr. Matthiesen mar- ried Miss Christina Gulzow, a daughter of Henry and Metha (Truelson) Gulzow, who came to Hall County in 1865. The father home- steaded in section 34, Washington township, where he died and the mother owns the one hundred and sixty acres. Of the eleven children in the Gulzow family, Mrs. Matthiesen is the eldest of the survivors, the others being : Hans, who operates the homestead for his mother. married Metha Wegner; Minnie, the wife of Diedrick Husman, of Merrick County ; Emma, the wife of William Brooks, of Grand Island ; Mary, the wife of William Thesenvitz. living near Alda, Nebraska; Rosa, the wife of Nich- olas Werner, living near Doniphan; William, who lives at Grand Island, married Dora

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Hann; and Anna, the wife of Frank Strauss, of Pine Bluff, Wyoming.

To Mr. and Mrs. Matthiesen seven children were born: Lena, now deceased, was the wife of Claud Starling; William, who assists his father on the farm; Augusta, the wife of Herman Knuth, of Pitnam, Oklahoma; Henry, who lives at Overton, Nebraska, mar- ried Emma Boltz; Julius, who married Emma Wiese; and Rosa and Lillie, both of whom live with their parents. The whole family stands well in the township where they have lived so long and where all the children have attended school. For one year Mr. Matthiesen was treasurer of Washington township, but he has never been very active in politics. He votes an independent ticket. In speaking of early days, Mr. Matthiesen tells of the coming of a young and earnest physician, Dr. Tosping, who soon found that the neighborhood was so healthy that either he would have to take his own tonics to keep alive or get to work with his hands. He chose wood chopping.

JOHN FALLDORF, carrying on farming operations on the homestead in Washington township, which is the land his father pre- empted in 1873, is well known in Hall County where the family has been held in great esteem for almost a half century.

John Falldorf was born in Hall County, Ne- braska, October 8, 1884, the third in a family of five children born to Frederick and Dora (Parkman) Falldorf. The father was born in Germany in 1852 and the mother in the same county, in 1859. They were married in the fall of 1879, and all their children are liv- ing: Anna, the wife of John Heesch, of Ham- ilton County. Nebraska; Henry, also in Hamilton County, married Dora Schuler; John lives in Washington township; Emma, the wife of John Schuler, a farmer east of Grand Island; and Otto, who lives in Ham- ilton County, married Clara Neubert. When the father of this family first came to Ne- braska, his business of freighting was a very ·important and a dangerous one. There were many hostile Indians ever ready to attack the long train of frieght wagons that had to carry everything that was transported, not over the fine automobile highways of the present day, but over trails through the forests and un- bridged streams. Mr. Falldorf also drove a stage for a time from the western part of the state to Sidney. In 1873 he came to Wash- ington township, Hall County, and pre-empted land on section 2, on which he continued to live until 1910, when he retired. For a num-

ber of years he served as school moderator and director in his township and his sound judgment in school matters was generally ac- cepted. In politics he is a Republican. He is one of the olderst members of the Platts- deutch society at Grand Island.

John Falldorf has always lived in Hall County. He obtained his education in the public schools and learned the principles of farming in a practical way. For some years he has had charge of his father's old farm, and being experienced and thoroughgoing, he has been very successful. He married Freda, a daughter of John C. and Catherine Hann, and they have the following children : Lillie, Raymond, Louis and Maxine. In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the Sons of Herman and the Plattsdeutch society.

HENRY KNUTH, whose well improved farm situated in Washington township, Hall County, shows evidences of thrift and good management, belongs to an old family of this section. Extended mention can be found on another page of this work. Mr. Knuth was born in Hall County, Nebraska, December 24, 1872, a son of Henry Knuth.

The boy was reared on his father's pioneer farm and remembers many interesting events of early days in the county, when hardships were many and comforts few. He recalls some creditable things of the Indians, also, and mentions one occasion when his brother broke his leg and an old Indian doctor was called in, who set the leg properly and treated it with his herbs so carefully that recovery was rapid. He attended one of the early schools but the most of his life until his twenty-sixth year, was spent in the cultivation of the home land. His present farm of one hundred and eighty acres has been improved with substantial buildings, and is exceedingly well stocked. Mr. Knuth breeds Shorthorn . cattle and at the head of his herd has a ped- igreed bull, while all his other stock is up to the same high standard.

On May 16, 1899, Henry Knuth married Miss Martha Baasch, who is a daughter of Charles and Minnie (Hansen) Baasch, well known early settlers of the county. They now live retired in Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Knuth have the following children: Rudolph, born January 25, 1900; Marie, born May 19, 1901; Emma, born October 3, 1903 ; Ella, born April 25, 1905; and Emil, born September 19, 1907. These children have had excellent ed- ucational advantages and are creditable rep- resentatives of Hall County's younger genera-

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tion. In politics Mr. Knuth has always been a Democrat, but he has never been willing to accept a. public office, although well qualified through sound judgment and practical knowl- edge, to serve in many capacities. He belongs to the order of the Sons of Herman and also to the Plattsdeutch society.

HENRY A. KNUTH, one of the pros- perous younger farmers of Washington town- ship, Hall County, is a native of the county, born here January 10, 1889, and is a son of Juergen Knuth, an extended sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work. The family is an old and highly respected one of this section.

Henry A. Knuth attended the public schools near his father's farm through boyhood, and afterward remained with his parents, assist- ing his father until he was twenty-three years old. March 15, 1912, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Dora Pieper, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Paustain) Pieper, early settlers in Washington township who now live retired. Mrs. Knuth is one of a family of seven children and the second oldest of the four survivors. She has two sisters and one brother: Erna, the wife of Otto Schimmer; Hugo, married Freda Heesch ; and Adele, lives with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Knuth have three sturdy little sons, namely: Raymond, Roy, and George.

Mr. Knuth is operating one of his father's farms, which lies in section 33, Washington township, where he is meeting with deserved success, devoting special attention to his fine herd of Hereford cattle. He has never taken any very active part in politics, but keeps well informed on current events. He belongs to the order of Sons of Herman and also the Plattsdeutch society.

JOHN C. NEUBERT, a native son, a man of ample means, a heavy breeder of Hereford cattle and a factor in the sugar beet industry, has been the builder of his own fortune, begin- ning his business career on borrowed capital, and through thrift and industry, honesty and good judgment he has attained his present state of prosperity. Mr. Neubert was born in Hall Coutny, Nebraska, October 22, 1874.

The parents of Mr. Neubert were John and Wiebke (Alpen) Neubert, Germans, who came to the United States in April, 1872, made their way to Nebraska and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 32, Washington township, Hall County. In the

old country the father had worked as a wine- maker and also was on a sailing vessel that plied between Burg and Hamburg. After coming to America he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, living on his land in Hall County until his death, which occurred in June, 1906. His political affiliation was with the Democratic party, and he belonged to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both parents of Mr. Neubert were members of the German Lutheran church. They had nine children and of the six survivors John C. Neubert is the second in order of birth, the others being: Annie, the wife of Her- man Hehnke, of Grand Island; Minnie, the wife of Edward Boltz, of Alda township, Hall County; Celia, the wife of Richard Boltz, of Alda township; Henry, who lives at Wheatland, Wyoming, married Dora Scheel, now deceased, and Marie, the wife of Otto Weise, of Alda township. The Neuberts, like other early settlers, had to face many hard- ships and an early experience was the great snowstorm of April 13, 1873. Fortunately the log house had been finished by that time, but so violent was the storm that the inmates soon found themselves unable to use the door and Mr. Neubert had to crawl out of the window in order to get to his tethered mules to dig them out of the snow. It was a blizzard ex- perience never to be forgotten by those who endured it.

John C. Neubert worked for his father until he was twenty-one years old, in the meanwhile having some schooling during the winter seasons. He then borrowed a dollar and with this capital started out to shape his own career. He worked on a farm near Omaha, then went to Aberdeen, in South Dakota, where he remained a few months, going from there to Iowa, where he remained one year and then came back to Hall County to engage in the business of raising sugar beets, which occupied him for one year before he accepted a position from Martin Schimmer, at Sand Krog. In the meanwhile his industry was being rewarded and his success continued. At the present time Mr. Neubert owns two hundred and sixty-four acres of the best im- proved land in the county, seven acres of which he devotes annually to sugar beets. He is a breeder of Hereford cattle, and mules, a ready market always awaiting his livestock.

On December 20, 1898, Mr. Neubert mar- ried Miss Lena Hann, a daughter of John C. and Catherine (Pahl) Hann, natives of Germany. The Hanns came to Hall County with the second German colonization party in the state of Nebraska. Mrs. Neubert is

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TOP - H. A., ARTHUR, HELLMUTH, HERMAN, FRED, SONS OF JURGEN KNUTH MR. AND MRS. JURGEN KNUTH ELMER, LORRAINE, CHILDREN OF HERMAN KNUTH MR. AND MRS. HENRY KNUTH

RAYMOND, ROY, GEORGE, CHIL- DREN OF H. A. KNUTH Digitized by Google

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the eldest of the seven survivors of her par- ents' family of eleven children, the others being: Adelia, the wife of Adolph Gehrt of Custer City, Oklahoma; Christian, who lives at Custer City also, married Augusta Beberness; Celia, the wife of Emil Boltz, of Alda township; Dora, the wife of William Gulzow, of Washington township; Emil, who lives on the old home place, married Amanda Beberness ; and Freda, the wife of John Fall- dorf, of Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. Neubert have eight children: Clara, Malinda, Kathryn, Frieda and Marie, twins, Glenn, Hazel and Reuben, all of whom live at home except Clara, the wife of Otto Falldorf, of Washington township. Mr. Neubert and family are people who stand well in their community. He is a member of the non-par- tisan league in politics but has never accepted any public office except that of school director in which he is now serving. He belongs to the Plattsdeutchen society of Grand Island.

PETER SHULTZ, who is prospering as a general farmer and is recognized as one of the reliable and enterprising citizens of Center township, Hall County, belongs to a pioneer family of this section that has been well and favorably known here for many years.

Peter Shultz was born in Alda township, Hall County, Nebraska, December 4, 1885, and is a son of John and Emma (Thomssen) Shultz, an extended sketch of the family being found in this work. His father was born in Germany but has resided in the United States since he was eighteen years old and now lives in comfortable retirement near Alda. Peter Shultz attended the public schools in the county and grew to manhood on his father's homestead. Some ten years ago he rented his farm in Center township from his father, and since then has been successfully carrying on important farm industries. He has his farm well stocked and makes use of modern farm machinery, which is his own property, and keeps well posted concerning agricultural matters generally.

In 1913 Mr. Shultz was united in marriage to Miss Theckla Stange, who was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1909 with her parents, who live at Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Shultz have three children: John, Evelyn and Albert, aged respectively six, four and one year. Mr. Shultz is not identified with any political party but that does not indicate that he is indifferent concerning public matters, especially in Center township, where he wants good schools by

the time his bright little children are old enough to attend them, and the best of roads over which he must transport his produce and stock to market. He is a practical, sensible young man who casts an independent vote be- cause he desires to choose public officials by the measuring rule of his own good judgment.

AUGUST REHER, a representative of one of Hall County's fine old pioneer families, owns one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land situated in Washington township, on which he carries on general farming and stock- raising. Mr. Reher was born in Hall County, Nebraska, March 15, 1882.

The parents of Mr. Reher were Christian and Christina (Kroeger) Reher, natives of Germany, where the father followed the carpenter trade. They came to the United States in the spring of 1873 and reached Washington township, Hall County, on April 17, just two days after the memorable snow- storm of that year. The father homesteaded on section 26, where he lived for a few years before removing to section 36, where he started a summer resort at a point known as Platte Krog. After a few years there he re- moved to section 10, Washington township, where he bought 160 acres and resided on the place until the close of his life, which oc- curred April 16, 1903. Two of his four chil- dren, William and August, survive. Their mother lives alternately with them, in Grand Island and on the old home farm. Mr. Reher was known as a hardworking, upright man, becoming well acquainted over a wide neigh- borhood during the twenty-five years he hauled cream for Oscar Roeser of Grand Island. He was a Democrat in politics and served several years as a school director.

August Reher attended the public schools. He lived at home and worked for his parents until he was twenty-one years old, when he started farming on his own account on the old home place. He has made many improve- ments here but has never removed the old log cabin in which his parents lived. He cul- tivates his land intelligently, raising the grains that do well in this soil and climate, devoting some attention to raising stock of good grade.

On September 15, 1905, Mr. Reher married Miss Lucy Aye, who was born in Hall County after her parents, Peter and Lena (Bifeldt) Aye, came here in 1882. The father of Mrs. Reher died January 13, 1916. She has two brothers and one sister: Theodore, who lives in Grand Island, married Annie Wilhelmy; Martha, the wife of August Thavenet, living

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near Grand Island; and Herman, who lives with his family, in Palmer, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Reher have two daughters, Helen and Sadie. Mr. Reher has never taken a very active part in politics, but votes with the Democratic party. As a good citizen, he is interested in everything that promises to be of substantial benefit to his township and county.

WILLIAM HEESCH, a progressive farmer and business man of Washington township, is a member of one of the old and prominent families of Hall County, which has had much to do with the substantial develop- ment of this section since the early seventies. He was born in Hall County, March 17, 1878.

The parents of Mr. Heesch, Peter and Annie (Goetsche) Heesch, were born in Ger- many. They came from that country to the United States, reaching Nebraska in 1870. The father homesteaded in section 24, Wash- ington township, Hall County, where the family lived until 1884, when he sold and bought land in section 36, subsequently adding to his holdings until he owned two hundred and forty acres. This land he held until 1902, when he sold, retired from active farm life and removed to Grand Island. During his many years in Washington township he had been active politically, had served on the town- ship board and for many years was road overseer. In association with William Stolley, he organized the German Mutual Fire & Tor- nado Insurance Company, which has always been a growing concern and at the present time has not less than $4,000,000 insurance risks on its books, operating in Hall and ad- joining counties. For some time in early days he operated the place started by Christian Reher, known as Platte Krog, which was largely frequented by Indians as it was located very near the Platte river. Mr. Heesch still resides in Grand Island. His wife died on the farm on October 22, 1890. They had eight children: Amelia, the wife of Ferdinand Stollenberg, of Alda township; John, a farmer in Hamilton County, married Annie Falldorf ; William, who has always lived in Hall County ; Adelia, the wife of August Kroger, of Grand Island; Olga, the wife of August Peters, of Taloga, Oklahoma ; Dora, the wife of George T. Bauman, of Grand Island; Annie, the wife of Henry Lucks of Grand Island; and Clara, the wife of John Baasch, of Alda township, Hall County.

William Heesch attended the public schools in Washington township, and grew to man-

hood on his father's farm. On February 16, 1903, he married Miss Anna Beckman, the fourth in a family of seven children born to August and Amelia (Vieregg.) Beckman, the former of whom was born in Germany and now lives retired in Grand Island. The mother of Mrs. Heesch was born in Iowa and died on the Beckman homestead in Mer- rick County, near the Hall County line, in December, 1889. Mrs. Heesch now has the following brothers and sisters: Diedrich, who lives in Grand Island, married Emma Bruhn ; Elizabeth, the wife of Herman Sass, lives in Washington township; John E., who lives in Hall County, married Alma Grosch ; Olga H., the wife of Henry Menecke, lives in Howard County; and Augusta, lives with her father in Grand Island.

Mr. and Mrs. Heesch have two children : Hildegard E., who was born November 9, 1908; and Evelyn A., who was born November 27, 1910. They have a beautiful home on the two hundred and forty acre farm that Mr. Heesch owns and successfully operates. He bought the first traction plow used in this neighborhood and in many other ways has shown enterprise in carrying on his agri- cultural undertakings. He sells his products at prices that make a fair profit. He is justly proud of his high grade Orpington chickens and no less so of a flock of wild geese and ducks which he has thoroughly domesticated. Mr. Heesch conducts the supply store on his farm, in the interest of the Farmers' Union. which is doing an extensive business among the members of the union, as only these can avail themselves of this privilege. Mr. Heesch has been storekeeper for the past two years. He is a member of the fraternal order of Eagles, and of the Plattsdeutch society in Grand Island.

MARTIN SCHIMMER, whose life record illustrates what may be accomplished by in- dustry and perseverance, has been a resident.of Hall County for more than a half century, and from a humble position has become one of the largest land owners of the county.

Mr. Schimmer was born in Schleswig-Hol- stein, Germany, June 24, 1841. His parents were Peter and Marie (Hoffman) Schimmer, natives of the same country in which they spent their entire lives, where the father was a farmer. They were members of the Lutheran church, and reared a family of seven children, of whom only two are now living, Martin and a brother James who lives in Germany, The Digitized by

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others were, Fred, Peter, John, Hans, and Henry, all of whom are deceased.

Martin was reared in his native land acquir- ing his education in the schools of that country and when old enough found employment on the farm. At the age of twenty-two, having saved sufficient money to pay his passage, he decided to come to the United States. He spent the first year and a half in Scott County, Iowa, and then started west. It was his in- tention to go to Oregon, but experiencing some difficulty in learning where to take the stage, as there were no railroads in Nebraska at that time, he arrived in Hall County in March, 1866, and soon found employment on a farm. He often saw the stage coaches and freighting outfits crossing the plains to the west, but his money was gone and it was necessary for him to remain where he was. That he made no mistake, and that it proved rather fortunate that he was a poor man and obliged to stop in Hall County, is evidenced by the success that has come to him with the passing years.

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 108

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