USA > Nebraska > Hall County > History of Hall County, Nebraska > Part 114
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William Fagan was young when the family removed to Illinois. He attended school there and worked for his father and other farmers until 1892, when he came to Nebraska, locat- ing in Hall County. At first he helped his father on the home farm, at times he also worked on the neighboring farms and in the course of time bought his present well de- veloped and finely improved property consist- ing of one hundred and sixty acres, situated in section 6, Center township. For seventeen years he was manager of the Taylor ranch in Hall County, prior to coming to the McDonald ranch, of which he has been manager for the past three years, these being the largest ranches in the county.
On September 16, 1890, Mr. Fagan mar- ried Miss Ellen Walsh, who was born in Illi- nois and they have four children, namely : Annie, the wife of Lloyd W. O'Halleron, of Howard County, Nebraska; John, who oper- ates his father's farm; William, in the United States navy; and Ella, who makes her home in Grand Island. Mr. Fagan and family are members of the Roman Catholic church. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Elks and the Modern Woodmen.
HERMAN LUEBS, a prominent farmer and extensive raiser of cattle and hogs, owns two hundred and ninety acres of fine land which he devotes to these purposes. He is well known all over Hall County. He was born on his father's farm in Hall County, September 24, 1875.
The parents of Mr. Luebs were Henry and Sophia (Plauth) Luebs, the latter of whom died in January, 1883. They had eight chil- dren, and those besides Herman who are liv- ing are the following: Emma, the wife of Henry Kamps, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; Nicholas, who lives in Oklahoma, and John, who lived in Wood River township, Hall County. The father of Mr. Luebs was born in Germany in 1845, who emigrated to America many years ago and for many years was a very successful farmer and stockman in Hall County. He owns a fine residence in Grand Island, in which he has lived since he retired some years ago.
. Herman Luebs had school privileges in his boyhood but was little more than a boy when he began to be of great assistance to his father on the homestead. Mr. Luebs has never desired to embark in any other business than the one in which he has done so well, although it has often been one of hard work and worry. He has his land well improved and modern methods and expensive farm machinery are made use of in carrying on his farm industries. On March 25, 1915, he married Miss Rose Holling, a daughter of Peter Holling, who came to Hall County as an early settler. Mr. and Mrs. Luebs are members of the Lutheran church. He is independent in his political opinions, but is an interested and valued mem- ber of the Grange at Wood River.
CHARLES RAUERT, whose farming operations carried on in Prairie Creek town- ship for some years have been satisfactory from every point of view, is an enterprising young man with progressive ideas. He has been a farmer all his life and has knowledge and experience to back him in his undertak- ings. It is probable that in a very few years Mr. Rauert may have one of the finest herds of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle in this sec- tion of the state.
Charles Rauert was born in Hall County, Nebraska, August 31, 1883, the eldest of a family of four children born to Matthew and Elsie (Siek) Rauert, the former of whom came to the United States with his parents in 1866 and immediately located in Hall County. The grandfather died in the same year. The father of Mr. Rauert now lives retired in G rand Island, but retains the ownership of his valuable farms in the county, one of which Charles Rauert rents from his father. He has one hundred and sixty acres and devotes the land to general farming and stockraising, giv- ing particular attention to Duroc-Jersey hogs,
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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
and as above mentioned, to thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle.
In 1908 Mr. Rauert married Miss Elsie Seim, and they have four children: Erma, Arthur, Elvira and Edna, the older children already making a fine record at school. Mr. and Mrs. Rauert are members of the Lutheran church. They have a wide acquaintance and many friends. Mr. Rauert is not identified with any political party but is active and inter- ested in township matters that concern the general walfare, casting his vote at local elec- tions,.according to his own well matured judg- ment.
FRANZ WIECK. - Many of the fine pro- ductive farms of Hall County would never have reached their present value without the patient industry and unusual efficiency of the owners, who made their improvement the main business of life. Such a man was the late Franz Wieck, who came here in 1893 and took up a homestead. During his subsequent life no one could have been more industrious and the success he experienced was well de- served.
Franz Wieck was born in Germany, Novem- ber 29, 1865, a son of Franz and Catherine Wieck, who spent their lives in Germany. After schooldays were passed and military service was over, the young man came to the United States in order to take advantage of the government offer of homesteads in the western part of the country. Immediately after reaching Hall County, he secured a homestead, settling happily on it where he re- mained a continuous resident until the time of his death, which occurred April 20, 1915, leav- ing an estate of one hundred and sixty acres of finely improved land.
In 1895 Mr. Wieck married Miss Anna Hargens, and they became the parents of the following children: Margaret, Martha, John, Alma, Alfred, Ernest, Clara, Alice and Rosa, all of whom reside on the farm with their mother. In religious faith he was a Lutheran. He took no particular interest in politics, but he belonged to one of the old German social organizations in Grand Island, in which he was very highly esteemed.
ABRAHAM W. LEISER, who has been a resident of Hall County for thirty five years, is a representative citizen of Center township and an exceedingly prosperous farmer. When Mr. Leiser came to the county he had very little in the way of earthly goods, but he had
courage, health and energy, and with the de- termination to make use of them to the best advantage, pushed forward and now is one of the most substantial farmers of the county. Mr. Leiser set a good example as a young man and, as is usually the case, has never had cause to regret his early industrious efforts and much self denial.
Abraham W. Leiser was born in Pennsyl- vania, March 12, 1863, the son of David and Rebecca (Trump) Leiser, natives of the same state. They had the following children: George, who lives in Grand Island; Anne, who lives in Grand Island; Abraham W., who lives in Center township; Sadie, who died in in- fancy; and Melvin, who is deceased. In his youthful days, Abraham W. Leiser attended school in Michigan and also in Missouri. In 1884 he came to Hall County with the inten- tion of making this his permanent home. His first purchase of land was a tract of eighty acres, to which he has added from time to time until now he owns two hundred and forty acres of well improved land, his home farm being situated in section three, Center town- ship, within easy market distance of Grand Island. He has always carried on general farming, having no particular specialties but an abundance of staple crops.
On January 17, 1888, Mr. Leiser married Miss Melvina Eager, whose people were very early settlers in Hall County. They have had four children, two sons and two daughters, namely : Alvin, a farmer in Center township: Rebecca, the wife of William Vocke; and Floyd and Helen, both of whom live at home. In politics Mr. Leiser is a Democrat, having served as deputy sheriff four years under Jim Dunkle, and is always ready to support his political friends but has never desired public office for himself.
JACOB SHOEMAKER .- When the early settlers of Hall County, who have passed away are called to mind, there is great reason to remember Jacob Shoemaker. He came here almost a half century ago when all this beau- tiful country was practically a prairie. Al- though at that time already a man of middle life, such was his industry that he succeeded in accumulating a large property and he be- came also one of the county's most useful and respected citizens. His honest name is per- petuated by a large family of children, almost all of whom belong and add to the fine citi- zenship of Nebraska.
Jacob Shoemaker was born in Preble County, Ohio, May 20, 1818, and died in Hall
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County, Nebraska, December 11, 1895. His parents were Daniel and Margaret (Witt) Shoemaker, both of whom were born in Penn- sylvania. Jacob Shoemaker obtained his edu- cation in the subscription schools, and being strong and sturdy in his youth, his father urged him to learn the carpenter trade, which at that time included much heavy work that is now done by the allied trades. He con- tinued carpenter work until he came as far west as Iowa, after which, until the close of his active life, he was interested in farming. In 1871 he came as a homesteader to Hall County, and years of uninterrupted industry followed during which he acquired five hun- dred and twenty acres of land. He neglected no opportunity to improve his home property and when he built his house it was reputed to be the most commodious in the county and for. years was a landmark, showing for miles across the treeless prairie. Without any of the scientific knowledge that has so greatly assisted the modern farmer, he perseveringly carried on his operations with the practical good sense and agricultural knowledge that experience had brought him, and was con- sidered one of the most successful farmers in Center township.
October 28, 1849 Jacob Shoemaker and Sarah Ann Brunt were united in marriage. She was born December 6, 1832, a native of Rush, Madison County, Indiana. To them were born children as follows: William B., who lives at Chapman, Nebraska; Clara, the wife of Cyrus Kellogg, of Chapman; Albert E., who lives at Burwell, Nebraska; Belle, who resides on the old homestead; Jesse, who lives at Oconto, Nebraska; Samuel M., who resides on the homestead; George, a farmer near Burwell; Eva, the wife of F. M. Cav- ender, of Ainsworth, Nebraska; Anna, the wife of Henry Rathmann, of Holdrege, Ne- braska ; and Edna, the wife of Harry Lenon, and they live in Arizona. Mr. Shoemaker was a Republican in his political views. He was reared in a Quaker community and at- tended their meetings in his youth, but in later life became a member of the Christian church and the family assisted in its support in Hall County.
JAMES RAUERT, who now lives retired in Grand Island, surrounded with comforts suitable to his age and position in life, has been a resident of Hall County for many years, brought here by his parents in early pioneer days when Nebraska was still con- sidered a part of the Great American Desert.
Mr. Rauert has seen wonderful changes take place during his life in the county, where he and his brothers have been very successful along agricultural lines.
James Rauert was born in Germany, May 1, 1851, a son of Jacob Mat and Anna (Madiensen) Rauert, who came to the United States and Hall County, Nebraska, in 1866. In that same year the father died and the five children had to assume much responsibility when young in order to assist their mother in keeping the family together. From early boy- hood James Rauert followed farming until he retired from active life, moving then to Grand Island, in which city he is greatly respected. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, together with his attrac- tive city residence, and is counted one of the county's men of ample fortune.
In 1877 James Rauert married Miss Anna Tagge, whose parents were early settlers in Hall County, and they have three sons, Will- iam, George and John, the eldest of whom lives in Idaho, the youngest has charge of the home farm and George operates his own farm. They are all fine young men who reflect credit on their parents and the community. The beloved wife and mother passed away Sep- tember 11, 1895. Mr. Rauert is a member of the Lutheran church.
HENRY F. LUEBS. - Grand Island is the home of many retired farmers and has no better citizenship than these men of means, resources and wholesome life. They are, too, usually men of sound judgment and their advice is not to be despised when matters of city importance are up for consideration, es- pecially the expenditure of public funds. In order to make their farming operations profit- able, they had to be frugal and foresighted, and their methods might solve many civic problems. A dependable citizen of this class is found in Henry Luebs, who resides in his fine. residence in Grand Island, after many years as a farmer in Hall County, where he owns over eight hundred acres of well im- proved land in Wood River and Alda town- ships.
Henry Luebs was born in Germany, Sep- tember 6, 1845, the fifth in a family of six children born to John and Dorothy (Schoel) Luebs, the others being as follows: Malie, Anna, Lena, Frederick and Amelia, all of whom live in Germany except the oldest, who went to Australia many years ago, and Fred- erick, who like his next younger brother, came to Nebraska. AfteredHenry Luebs
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landed in the United States in 1874 he first located in Iowa and from there, on the eleventh of November of the same year, came to Hall County. The beginning of. his pres- ent large property was when he acquired eighty acres of railroad land, and to the de- velopment and cultivation of his land as it increased through subsequent purchases, he devoted many years. He became one of the best general farmers in his section, growing heavy crops and raising much fine stock.
Mr. Luebs was twenty-four years old at the time of his first marriage, which united him to Miss Sophia Plauth, who died in January, 1883. Of their eight children, the following are living: Emma, the wife of Henry Kamps, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; Nicholas, who lives in Oklahoma; Herman, a farmer in Wood River township, and John, who also lives in Wood River township. On December 19, 1884, Mr. Luebs contracted his second mar- riage, with Annie Plauth, a sister of the first Mrs. Luebs, and of the ten children born to them eight are living: Rosa, who lives at Grand Island; Rudolph, a farmer in Wood River township on the old farm; August, who lives at Lincoln; Elbert, a farmer; Henry, who lives in Milwaukee, and Alma, Alfred and Marie, all of whom reside at home. The family belongs to the Lutheran church.
HENRY SCHROEDER. - There are few general farmers and stockraisers in Wood River township, Hall County, who have done better in a business way within the same space of time, than has Henry Schroeder. He started with nothing and now owns one of the large, well developed farms here and is a shipper of cattle and hogs.
Henry Schroeder was born September 10, 1873, at Syracuse, New York. His parents were Frederick and Sophia Schroeder, who were born, reared and married in Germany. In 1872 they emigated from the old country for the greater opportunities afforded in America, settling first near Syracuse, New York, soon after arriving in the United States, where the father worked as a farmer. The family came to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1881. In speaking of the early days here in reference to himself, Henry Schroeder says he was educated mainly in the school of hard knocks, which may be interpreted as having little other schooling and few advantages of any kind. Therefore it is creditable that through his own efforts and thrift he has be- come a man of independent means and owns a farm of four hundred and twenty acres. He
has it substantially improved, also the result of his own industry and progressive ideas. He has worked very hard and still devotes him- self closely to his farm industries which he finds more and more profitable. He raises and disposes of about twenty-five head of good grade cattle and forty head of hogs an- nually.
Mr. Schroeder married Miss Bettie Miller, who was born and reared in Hall County. They have a fine family of four sons and one daughter, namely: William, who lives on the home farm; Frederick, married Etta Schwieger, who is also a farmer; and Elsie, Harry and Louis, all of whom live at home. Mr. Schroeder and his older sons are Repub- licans. The entire family is highly esteemed throughout Wood River township.
AMOS W. JOBE, one of the progressive young farmers of Hall County, who is intelli- gently interested in agriculture generally, and most particularly in the section where he is very successfully operating a farm of eighty acres, has spent his entire life in Hall County. He was born in Center township, November 19, 1897, and is a son of the late Simeon C. and Mahala P. (Mackey) Jobe.
Simeon C. Jobe was born at Griggsville. in Pike County, Illinois, where he grew up on a farm, and farming was his business all his life. He served as a soldier during the Civil War, a member of Company I, Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, and at the time of his death was a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public. Mr. Jobe was married first to Susan B. Pollack, of Griggsville, Illinois and by that union there were six children: Priscilla, now Mrs. Nichols, and they have two children. Gladys and Harold, both college graduates. Harold is now receiving military training ir. Texas; Hattie Jane, a graduate of the high school in 1873, lives in Colorado; Charles S .. who lives in Dalton, Nebraska, has four chil- dren, Ada and Estyl, and two are dead, Roscoe and Alice; Nettie F., the wife of Lute Tobias, in Eugene, Oregon, is the mother of two boys. Kenneth and Merle, and two children who died when quite small, William and Eva. The mother died in 1883. In Illinois Mr. Jobe married for his second wife Miss Mahala P. Mackey, who was born in Randolph County, Illinois. He parents were William and Mary E. (Stanley) Mackey, who lived and died in Illinois. Her father was a Baptist in re- ligious faith, while her mother belonged to the Methodist church, When Mr. and Mrs Jobe came to Hall County Cin the
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eighties, Mr. Jobe brought with him considerable capital, at least $1,000, and did not feel compelled to hasten permanent settle- ment, but in 1900 he invested and his family have been benefitted by the good judgment he used when he purchased the Deal property, a valuable farm. He was one of the first resi- dents in this section of Nebraska to raise fine hogs and winter wheat, both proving satisfac- tory enterprises. At the time of his death, at the age of. sixty-three years, he was looked upon as a successful business man as well as a most worthy citizen. His widow, and three children survive: Walter E., in business at Duncan ; Ruth, a popular and efficient teacher in the public schools in District No. 29; and Amos W., who is making use of his excellent education in carrying on his extensive opera- tions on the farm. He realizes the responsi- billity that, in these days, rests upon the young farmers of the nation and is doing his best. The son and two daughters both graduated from the high school of Grand Island, the former in 1917 and the latter in 1913, the youngest of a class of fifty-two and the only members of the class who have been to all the alumni meetings.
AUGUSTINE C. DENMAN is one of Hall County's most respected residents. He has spent forty-five years in this part of Ne- braska, and has been active and useful in all things concerning the welfare of Alda town- ship, where he bought land in 1872.
Augustine C. Denman was born in 1840, in Ohio. In 1872 he came to Hall County, and in the following year married Mary H. Phil- lips. She was born in England and brought to the United States when one year old. To this marriage the following children were born; Frank, who is in the farm implement business at Alda, Nebraska; Mrs Maude Olsen, who lives in Hall County; Edward E., who is operating his father's farm; Nettie, who re- sides at home; Arthur, who lives at Alda; Mrs. Alice Dolstrom, and Mrs. Jane Stimpfig, both of whom live at Grand Island; and two who are deceased.
When Mr. Denman came to Hall County he was practically without capital, but, taking advantage of the opportunities presented here for acquiring financial independence, he grad- ually advanced his fortune through industry and good judgment, and today is one of the substantial men of the county. He is a stock- holder in the Farmers State Bank of Alda, also in the State Bank of Grand Island, owns stock in the leading hotel property at
Grand Island, and has one of the best developed farms in Alda township. This farm has been taken over by his son Edward E. Denman, who is having marked success in the business of feeding cattle and hogs. Mrs. Denman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Alda, Ne- braska.
JOHN C. RAUERT, one of the younger generation of the prominent family of his name in Hall County, is maintaining the repu- tation that this family has enjoyed for years as successful agriculturists. He is a young man of much enterprise and in conducting his farm operations shows love for his vocation as well as a scientific knowledge concerning it.
John C. Rauert was born in Hall County, Nebraska, November 14, 1891, a son of James and Anna (Tagge) Rauert, the latter of whom died September 11, 1895. Mr. Rauert has two brothers, William and George, the former of whom lives in Idaho, and the latter in Hall County. The father, who was born in Ger- many, May 1, 1851, now lives retired in Grand Island, where he owns improved property.
After his school days were over, John C. Rauert settled down to farming, sensibly choosing the most important vocation in the world, and to this he has devoted his best efforts. The one hundred and twenty acres he is so profitably operating, he has under rental from his father. He has no par- ticular specialties, general crop and a mod- erate amount of stockraising engaging his attention. He is an intelligent, well informed farmer and keeps thoroughly posted on agri- cultural as well as other questions of the day, through reading and exchanging views with others.
On January 20, 1916, Mr. Rauert married Miss Anna Stoltenberg, and they have three children : Caroline, Beulah and Lola. Mr. and Mrs. Rauert are members of the Lutheran church. He belongs to several German social organizations at Grand Island. .
OTTO F. WIESE, who successfully carries on large farming operations in Alda township, Hall County, belongs to a prominent family here, whose settlement dates from 1869. Mr. Wiese was born in Hall County, April 12, 1882. His father, Fritz Wiese, was born in Holstein, Germany, January 21, 1844. Several members of the family came with him to the United States in 1869.
In the same year Fritz Wiese came to Hall
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HENRY PETERS AND FAMILY
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County and homesteaded a claim containing eighty acres. When he reached here he had $2.50. Now he owns six hundred and fifty- two acres of land, two hundred and ninety two being in his home farm in Alda township, two hundred in Wood River township, and one hundred and sixty in Mayfield township. He remembers when the Indians were often seen traveling through this section. For many years he was an active farmer but is now re- tired. For twelve years he was treasurer of the school board. It sounds strange to hear a capitalist like Mr. Wiese tell of the time he did not have money enough to buy coffee for himself and wife, but this was the case for several years after their marriage in 1872. Two sons, William H. and John F. are of his first marriage and two sons and two daughters were born to his second marriage: Mrs. Dora Lillenthal, who lives in Nebraska; Mrs. Augusta Arp, who lives near Abbott, Ne- braska; Emil, who lives near Wood River; and Otto F., who resides on the home place with his father.
Otto F. Wiese obtained his education in the Hall County schools and has followed farming as a chosen vocation. He is operating his father's farm in Alda township and gives much attention to good stock, raising two car loads of hogs yearly. He has the reputation of being one of the best all around farmers in this part of the county.
Otto F. Wiese married Miss Mary Neubert, born near Sand Krog, Hall County, the daughter of John and Widke Neubert, both of whom are deceased. They have three children : Augusta, Mamie and Mildred, aged fourteen, eleven and nine years respectively. Mr. Wiese has never accepted any public office except that of school moderator, in which office he served nine years. He is an independent voter.
HENRY PETERS, a very successful gen- eral farmer and highly respected citizen of Center township, has been a resident of Hall County since 1882 and in the interim has built up a comfortable fortune. He was born in Germany, January 24, 1866, and is a son of Claus and Katherine (Kroger) Peters.
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