History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 117

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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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

large and lucrative practice as the result of marked ability.

William J. Heflin was born in Dane County, Wisconsin, November, 26, 1860. His parents were Ezekiel and Eleanor E. (Moore) Heflin. The father of Mr. Heflin was a minister in the Christian church for many years. He was born in South Carolina and died in 1905 in Minnesota. Dr. Heflin's mother was born in New York and died in Grand Island in 1916. Both had accompanied their parents to Wis- consin in childhood and their marriage took place in that state. Eight children were born to them and Dr. Heflin of Grand Island is the eldest of the three survivors, the others being : H. H., who is a physician and surgeon at Ke- wanee, Illinois, and Edna E., who is a prac- tising physician at Grand Island.

After his school period was over Dr. Heflin was faced with the necessity of earning. the means to take him through medical college, having early determined to become a physician, consequently he looked about' for employ- ment with the result that for some time he was a traveling representative of the manu- facturing firm of Hay & Todd, of Chicago. Subsequently he entered the medical depart- ment of the University of Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1895. After three years of practice in the city of Minneapolis he went to Nora Springs, in Floyd County, Iowa, and from there, in 1909, came to Grand Island .- Competent in every branch of his pro- fession, Dr. Heflin has no specialty.

In 1896 Dr. Heflin was united in marriage with Miss Clara A. Adams, who was born in Iowa, and they have one son and two daugh- ters: William Duane, who is a student in the Nebraska State University at Lincoln ; and Alice Fay and Clara Lenore, both of whom attend school at Grand Island. Mrs. Heflin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is interested in numerous charities. Dr. Heflin has long been identified with Masonry and has attained the thirty-second degree and formerly served both as senior and junior warden of Nicolett Lodge A. F. & A. M., St. Peter, Minnesota. He entertains as does every intelligent man and enlightened physi- cian, very decided views on public questions and votes according to his own judgment.

G. H. THOMAS. - For many years promi- nent in Nebraska along lines of useful effort, G. H. Thomas, president of the Grand Island National Bank, commands attention as a rep- resentative citizen of Hall County. Mr.

Thomas was born at Berlin, in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, March 4, 1876, the elder of two sons born to Griffith J. and Anna E. (Griffith) Thomas, who are highly respected retired residents of Harvard, Nebraska.

Griffith J. Thomas was born in Wales, Jan- uary 20, 1847, and brought to America and to Wisconsin in childhood. He was reared there and from there entered the service of his country during the Civil War, serving as a private for three years under two enlist- ments, thereby almost wrecking his health. He was a journalist by profession and continued to be interested in newspapers until he retired. He has always been an ardent Republican and for nine years served as postmaster at Berlin. In 1886 he came with his family to Clay County, Nebraska, where he was postmaster for eighteen years. He is one of the older members of the Masonic bodies in Clay County and one of the state leaders in the Grand Army of the Republic. To this noble organization Mr. Thomas has been particularly devoted and has labored zealously for its in- terests. He belongs to one of the oldest posts in existence, John H. Williams Post No. 4, Berlin, Wisconsin, which he has served three terms as deputy commander. He was married Nevember 1, 1874, to Miss Anna E. Griffith, who was born at Utica, New York, December 7, 1846, but was reared at Berlin. They have two sons G. H. and Harrie G., the latter of whom was associated with his brother in the banking business at Harvard and also in news- paper work with his father."

G. H. Thomas completed the high school course at Harvard, Nebraska, and then entered the State University from which he was grad- uated in 1897 and still maintains his member- ship in the Greek letter fraternities, Delta Tau Delta and Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Thomas then turned his attention and acquirements to the educational field and for eleven years taught school in Nebraska, for eight years being superintendent of schools at McCook, in Redwillow County. He then entered the banking business and from 1908 until 1917 was cashier of the Union State Bank of Harvard, Nebraska, which is one of the sound financial institutions of Clay County, operating with a capital of $25,000,surplus and profits $17,000 and average deposits $500,000. He still main- tains an interest in that institution although now a resident of Grand Island. When he came here to associate with Theodore Griess of this city, he bought the majority of stock in the Grand Island National Bank, of which he has since been president. This bank is

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conducted carefully and conservatively with a capital of $100,000, surplus and undivided pro- fits $135,000.

Mr. Thomas was married in 1900 to Miss Blanch E, McCarl, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of John McCarl, who removed from Iowa to Hastings in Adams County, Nebraska, and later to McCook. Mr. Thomas is a staunch Republican but has taken no very decided part since coming to Grand Island but previously served for five years as mayor of Harvard. He is prominent in Masonry, a Knight Temp- lar and also a Shriner.

THEODORE GRIESS, president of the Grand Island National Bank, is well known bith in financial and political circles. He has not been a resident of Grand Island very long, but his welcome to this city has been hearty and his name will be a valuable asset in the furtherance of business.

Theodore Griess is a native of Russia, born at Worms, one of a family of ten children born to his parents, Peter and Sophia (Grosshaus) Griess. The family originated in Germany and from there went to Russia in earlier times. In 1873, the father of Mr. Griess came to the United States and settled in Clay County, Ne- braska, being accompanied by his family. The mother of Mr. Greiss died on November 25, 1903. Their children were as follows: Theo- dore, who is a resident of Grand Island; Henry P., who is a merchant at Sutton, Ne- braska; John G., who is cashier of the Sutton National Bank; William, also a merchant at Sutton ; Edward, a merchant at Eldorado, Ne- braska; Ferdinand, a dental surgeon at Sut- ton; Gustave, who was graduated in dentistry at Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1912; Rudolph, in college; Lydia, the wife of J. A. Dennis, a merchant at Eldorado; and three who are de- ceased. For many years the father of the above family has been engaged in the grain and coal business at Sutton. He has been ac- tive in Democratic politics and in 1887 was his party's candidate for county treasurer.

Theodore Griess obtained his education in the country schools, the Sutton graded schools and Doane College, at Crete, Nebraska. His business career began when he went into busi- ness with his father. In 1904 he removed from Clay County and became cashier of the Union State Bank, and in 1908, in association with George Thomas, bought the controlling interest and became president. Subsequently Mr. Griess purchased the majority of stock in the Grand Island National Bank and moved

to Grand Island. Early in his career he be- came interested in public affairs and has held many public offices of responsibility. From 1896 until 1897 he was deputy county treas- urer of Clay County. In 1897 he was elected county treasurer and was re-elected in 1899 and after the expiration of his second term he was deputy again for two years, spending in all ten years in the treasurer's office. In 1900 he was chosen as the candidate of the Democratic party for state auditor.

Mr. Griess married Miss Johanna Fand- mann, the ceremony taking place March 28, 1900. She was born at Scotland, South Da- kota. They have three children : Helene; Ray- mond Paul and Gertrude Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Griess are people of education, culture and religion.

WILLIAM SCHROEDER is a represen- tative citizen of Hall County and a substantial farmer in Alda township. He belongs to a well known family of this section who homesteaded here forty-eight years ago. His has always been an agricultural family and it has been a prosperous one from the beginning, industry, thrift and good management being family characteristics.

William Schroeder was born January 6, 1865. His parents were Fritz and Sophia (Lamp) Schroeder, both of whom were born and reared in Germany. They came to the United States in 1864, and in 1871 the father homesteaded in Hall County, Nebraska. He came to the county a poor man but at the time of his death he was a wealthy man, being the owner of a whole section of well improved land. He was not only honest and industrious, but also a man of high principles, a faithful member of the Lutheran church, and for many years a member of the order of United Work- men. He was the father of five children: William, the eldest born ; Charles, who lives at Grand Island; Henry, a farmer in Alda town- ship; Otto, a farmer in Alda township; and Elizabeth, deceased, the wife of Ernest Scholtz, of Hall County.

William Schroeder obtained his education in the Hall County schools and early began farm training. He now owns and cultivates one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in a favorable location, which he has admirably improved. He is one of the substantial farmers and de- pendable citizens of the county. He married Miss Maggie Clauson. They have children as follows: Sophia, the wife of John Mohn, of Montana; and Alfred, Alma, Ella, John,

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George and Rudolph, all of whom live at home. Mr. Schroeder and his family are mem- bers of the Lutheran church and attend ser- vices in Grand Island.

CHARLES LUTH, a prosperous general farmer in Alda township, Hall County, be- longs to an old family of this section, one that is noted for its agricultural success. Father and sons have been farmers all their lives, and with the experience of many years, have made their land unusually productive. Nowhere in the county will be found better tilled acres, more modern farm machinery, evidences of more thorough methods in crop rotation and fertili- zation, or more substantial improvements than on the Luth farms.

Charles Luth was born in Marshall County, Iowa, the second son of Fred and Minnie Luth, both natives of Germany. His father was born in 1844, a son of Henry and Sophia (Yohn) Luth, and the only one of their eight children to come to the United States. For some years prior to coming to Hall County, he engaged in farming in Iowa. The most of his ample fortune has been made after com- ing to Nebraska. Charles Luth had some edu- cational opportunities in Hall County. Mr. Luth is in partnership with his brother Will- iam in the operation of two hundred and thirty acres of land belonging to their father and much success is attending their undertaking. Mr. Luth is an independent voter, never hav- ing identified himself with any political party and never being desirous of holding a political office.

GEORGE F. RICKARD, a well known general farmer of Hall County, operating what was his grandfather's old homestead near Alda, has spent his life in this county and all his interests are centered here. Both father and grandfather were pioneers in this section and no people are better or more favorably known than the Rickards.

George F. Rickard was born in Hall County, Nebraska, February 16, 1873, the second in a family of six children born to Charles Louis and Margaret (Burd) Rickard, and a grand- son of George H. and Polly Anne (Forrest) Rickard. The grandparents were born in New York, lived for some years in Illinois, came to Hall County in 1880 and homesteaded, their property still remaining in the family. The parents of Mr. Rickard resided on their own homestead in Hall County, the father having

come here in 1877, and there the mother died in 1916. George Rickard remained at home assisting his father until he was twenty-one years old. In the meanwhile he attended the public schools. As mentioned above, he lives on his grandfather's old place and rents a half section of land from his father, which he devotes to general farming.

On Christmas Day, 1910, Mr. Rickard mar- ried Miss Carrie Barr, whose parents were very early settlers in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Rickard have had three children: Charles, Earl, and an infant that is deceased. Mr. Rickard has always devoted himself closely to his own business and has taken little part in political matters. He is, however, an intelligent, wide-awake citizen, and while he votes according to his own judgment, may be depended upon to support candidates who have the best interests of Hall County at heart.

CHARLES L. RICKARD. - For more than forty years Charles Louis Rickard, one of Hall County's substantial farmers, has been a resident of this section. He came here in the early days of county settlement, has worked hard and has prospered. He has done his part in advancing agricultural, edu- cational and social interests. He was born in McHenry County, Illinois, January 30, 1852. His parents, George H. and Polly Anne (Forrest) Rickard, were natives of New York, where they were reared and married. The father was a farmer all his life, first in Illinois, and after 1880 in Hall County, Ne- braska, where he owned a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land. They had two children, Charles Louis and Emma, the latter of whom died at the age of four years.

Charles L. Rickard attended the district schools near his father's farm in Illinois and remained at home until 1877 when he came to Hall County. He was much better off than many of the older settlers, for he brought with him three horses, two yoke of oxen and $75 in cash. Later he homesteaded and continued on his land through the years of hardship that overwhelmed many of the pioneers. Grad- ually, through hard work and the exercise of good judgment, he acquired other tracts of land, until now he owns seven hundred and twenty acres. His property has all been well improved and for many years he has been considered one of the most capable and pros- perous general farmers of the county.

In 1873 Mr. Rickard married Miss Margaret Burd, whose people were of old New England

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GEORGE RICKARD AND WIFE CHARLES L. RICKARD AND WIFE

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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

stock. She died December 24, 1916, mourned by a devoted family and a wide circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Rickard had the fol- lowing children: Effie, the wife of Marley Compton ; George, a successful farmer in Hall County ; Nellie, the wife of Roy Orendoff, of Hall County ; Walter D., who lives at Ord, Nebraska; Elsie, the wife of Otto Giersdorf, of Columbus, Nebraska, and Amer C. who is a railroad man.

HENRY LUTH, a very successful farmer in Hall County belongs to a well known family of this section, the most of its members being substantial farmers. Mr. Luth was born in Hall County, on Christmas Eve, 1869, a son of Fred and Minnie (Runfeldt) Luth, both of whom were born in Germany. The father of Mr. Luth was twenty-two years old when he came to the United States. He engaged in farming in Marshall County, Iowa, until 1886, when he came to Hall County, where he is now one of the heavy landowners.

Henry Luth attended the public schools in Hall County as opportunity afforded. His services on the farm began when he was but a boy, a pursuit in which he has been continu- ously engaged to the present time. He is now operating land which his father formerly owned, and if all farmers in the county were as careful about the condition of the soil and quality of seed, and as well informed other- wise as Mr. Luth, this would soon be the ban- ner section of the state for big crops. He has put fine improvements on his farm and has everything comfortable around him.

In 1895 Mr. Luth married Miss Mary Schoel, a daughter of Henry Schoel. The fol- lowing children have been born to them: a babe that died in infancy; Ella, the wife of John Roby, a farmer in Center township; and Ralph, Minnie, Irvin and Henry, all of whom live at home. Mr. Luth has been a good citizen of his township. He has never been active in politics and in elections of all kinds casts an independent vote.

OTTO SCHROEDER, whose extensive farming operations place him among the lead- ing agriculturists of Hall County, is a repre- sentative of one of the sturdy pioneer families of this section. His father homesteaded in Hall County almost a half century ago and the name has been well and favorably known in the county ever since.

October 7, 1883. His parents were Fritz and Sophia (Lamp) Schroeder, who came from Germany to the United States in 1864. The former took up a homestead in Hall County in 1871, and from then until his death in 1912, followed an agricultural life. In early days he passed through many hardships but indus- try and perseverance enabled him to make headway where others might have failed, and when he passed away he left an estate that included an entire section of land. He was never active in politics. He belonged to the order of United Workmen, and was a faithful member of the Lutheran church. Of his five children, Otto was the fourth in order of birth, the others being: William, a substantial farmer in Hall County; Charles, who lives in Grand Island ; Henry, who is a farmer in Alda town- ship; and Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Ernest Scholtz, a farmer in Hall County.

Otto Schroeder had educational advantages in Hall County and when he left school chose farming as his vocation. A well trained, prac- tical man, with intelligent ideas in agricultural matters, he has steadily gone forward and has become prominent in agricultural circles because of his success in the manage- ment of his fine farm of two hundred acres. His land is well improved and every part of it shows the effect of careful tillage.

In 1906 Mr. Schroeder married Miss Bertha Rickert, whose parents were early settlers in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder the following children have been born : Edna. Mer- vin, Louis, Albert, Raymond and Hazel. The older children have made excellent records in school. Mr. Schroeder and his family are members of the Christian Science church.

HENRY BOEKMAN, the founder of a well known and highly respected family of Hall County, was born in Germany, April 5, 1843, and remained in his own country until 1868, when he came to the United States and the same year located in Hall County, Ne- braska. Like many settlers from foreign lands, he had but little capital left by the · time he had paid transportation charges. He was twenty-five years old on reaching the shores of America and was not easily dis- couraged, although he arrived in Nebraska in the midst of the Indian troubles that prevented permanent settlement for a time. Before long he homesteaded a timber claim and secured a pre-emption, then settled down to develop his land and in the course of years became a man Digitized by

Otto Schroeder was born in Hall County, of wealth and local importance. At the time

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of his death he owned five hundred and forty- five acres of well improved property.

In 1887 Mr. Boekman married Miss Sophia Hanson, born in Germany and the only mem- ber of her family to come to the United States. To this marriage the following chil- dren were born: Otto, Claus, James, Theo, George, Katie, Dora and Sadie, all of whom live at home except the two married daughters. Katie and Dora. Katie is the wife of Ernest Bosh, of Alda township, and Dora is the wife of Arthur Wiese. The family belongs to the Roman Catholic church at Doniphan.

JUERGEN KNUTH, a representative of one of the early pioneer families of Hall County, was born in Germany and accom- panied his parents to the United States. They were Henry and Anna (Juergen) Knuth, who had four other children : Thomas and Hans, both of whom are deceased; Henry, who is a farmer in Washington township, and Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of John Wiese. The family emigrated to America from the old country, locating in Hall County in 1870, where the mother died in 1900, and the father in August, 1909.

Juergen Knuth obtained his education in Germany. In many ways conditions were hard during early days in this section. There were many Indians and in speaking of them, Mr. Knuth says that once, in 1872, he was thrown from a load of wood which resulted in a broken leg. Indians picked him up and kindly carried him to his father's cabin and though badly shattered and he had only an Indian doctor who set and attended it yet he was so skilled that the bones knit perfectly and the leg has never given him any trouble .. The elder Knuth, at the time of his death, owned two hundred acres of land, all of which had been accumulated through his own industry. His sons assisted him and learned to be good farmers. Juergen Knuth first purchased one hundred and sixty acres, still residing on that tract. He now owns four hundred acres in Hall County and five hundred and sixty acres in Oklahoma, all fine land suitably improved, so that today he is numbered with the sub- stantial men of the county.

Mr. Knuth married Miss Emma Wegner, who was born in Germany and accompanied her people here in 1881. She has one sister, Mata, the wife of Hans Gulzow. Mr. and Mrs. Knuth have had eight children: Mata, who is deceased; Henry, who lives in Wash- ington township; Herman, who lives in Dewey

County, Oklahoma; Arthur, also a resident of Oklahoma; Anna, the wife of August Wiese, in Wyoming, and Fred, Hedwig and Helmuth, all of whom live at home. Mr. Knuth and his family attend the Lutheran church. He is independent in his political views. He belongs to several Low German social organizations at Grand Island, and his wife belongs to the Maccabees.

WILLIAM WIESE, one of the substantial citizens of Alda township, Hall County, has been a resident for many years. He has always taken part in township affairs and at all times promoted to the best of his ability, the interests of Hall County.

The parents of Mr. Wiese were Henry and Anna (Wiese) Wiese, who were born in Ger- many and came to the United States in 1860. Of their six children William was the third born, the others being: Lena, the widow of Carl Krueger, of Alda township; Katrina, the widow of Louis Buttner, of Alda, Hall County ; Henry, a farmer in Alda township; Gustave, in the coal business in Chicago, and Otto, who operates the old homestead in Alda township. For a time after coming to the United States, the family lived in Iowa, where William was born in Scott County. After moving to Hall County, the father bought one hundred and seventy-four acres of land, later added a hundred acres, and improved it all, putting up substantial buildings in place of the old log cabin and barn he found there.

The Wiese family with five other German families, came together, driving across the country in covered wagons, bringing with them from Iowa twenty head of cattle, ,and settled in Hall County in 1871. No members of the little colony pros- pered more than the Wieses, for they have always been industrious and thrifty, have been thorough in their farming methods, and have set a good example in raising stock standards in this section.

William Wiese attended school in boyhood but was yet young when he commenced to be of use to his father on the farm. In 1884 he began farming on his own account, going to Key a Paha County and homesteading. He remained there two years and then returned to Hall County, where he purchased a farm of one hundred acres, to which he has added until now he owns three hundred and ninety acres of valuable land, all of which he has improved. He carries on general farming and raises stock for his own use.

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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

In the fall of 1885, Mr. Wiese married Miss Alma Appledorn. They have the following children : Clarence, who lives at Alda; Anna, the wife of Allen Sell, of Alda township, and Dorothy, Lawrence and Irene, all of whom are at home. Mr. Wiese and his family are of the Lutheran faith. He belongs to the order of Maccabees.

CARL KRUEGER, a homesteader of the late sixties in Hall County, was a man of large estate and through good neighborly kindness and upright living, gained the friendship and respect of all who knew him in Alda township.

Carl Krueger was born in Germany, July 27, 1840, and died on his farm in Hall County, November 24, 1905. His father was Christian Krueger. He left the Fatherland for the United States in 1860 and soon after landing in this country became engaged in farm work and carpentering, a vocation he followed for many years, his industry keeping pace with his opportunities. He was the builder of many farm structures in Hall County. He kept adding to his original homestead until, at the time of his death, he owned four hundred acres of well improved land, all of which he had secured through honest labor.

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 117

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