USA > Nebraska > Hall County > History of Hall County, Nebraska > Part 121
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138
John S. Hayse was born in Hancock County, Ohio, December 24, 1855. He was the only child born to the marriage of John Conrad and Sarah (Crouse) Hayse. His mother was a native of Pennsylvania who died in Ohio when aged thirty-nine years. His father was born in Germany and lived to be seventy years old. By a second marriage he had children and two daughters survive and reside in Ohio.
After his school period was over, John S. Hayse assisted on the home farm in Hancock County and remained in Ohio as a farmer for four years after his marriage. When he reached Hall County in 1880 his capital con- sisted of $50, with which he bought railroad land. For some years he found farming a rather hard proposition, as the methods to which he had been accustomed in Ohio were not altogether applicable to Nebraska soil, but he was earnest, steady and industrious and adjusted himself to changed conditions in the course of time, and at present owns one of the most productive eighty acre farms in Har- rison township. He has kept abreast of the times in agricultural matters, makes use of modern machinery, tests his seed carefully and is particular concerning the quality of his stock. His farm buildings are substantial and the surroundings attractive and inviting.
In Ohio, on October 19, 1876, Mr. Hayse was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Orwick, and they have had four children : Mrs. Nancy B. Foster, who lives near Don- iphan; Otto E., a farmer near Wood River;
ยท
850
HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
John E., at home, and Bertha May, who died ing to Hall County in 1869, the young man when aged five years. For six years Mr. Hayse has been a school director and performs his duties conscientiously.
HENRY WESTPHAL, a prosperous gen- eral farmer in Hall County and the owner of a quarter section of land in Harrison town- ship, was born in Holstein, Germany, May 31, 1858. His parents were Diedrick and Katrine Westphal, natives of Germany.
Henry Westphal was twenty-six years old when he came to the United States and im- mediately located in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska. Like many other early settlers in the county, he was practically with- out capital, but he found work and was in- dustrious and frugal and that is the explana- tion of his present ample fortune. Mr. West- phal has come to a time of life when it is no longer necessary for him to labor as in old days, but he still continues active and capably manages his farm as he has done for so many years. He has made substantial improvements on his property, carries on varied farming and raises some fine grade stock.
In 1880, Mr. Westphal married Miss Katrine Christian, whose parents were res- idents of Hall County. They have had chil- dren as follows: August, Richard, Oscar, Mrs. Minnie Enspinger, Harry and Charles. Harry Westphal, the fourth son, went to Europe as a soldier with the American Ex- peditionary Forces, and is with the Army of Occupation in Germany. Mr. Westphal and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. The entire family is held in general esteem in Grand Island as well as in Harrison town- ship.
JOHN MATHIAS TAGGE, who for fifty years has been a resident of Hall County, came here in youth, was quiet, industrious and efficient whether working for others or for himself, and now owns one of the best im- proved farms in Harrison township.
John Mathias Tagge was born in Holstein, Germany, May 23, 1850. His parents were Claus J. and Matilda Tagge, who were highly respected people in the section of Germany in which they lived. John M. Tagge was the first of the family to come to America and largely upon his report depended the emigration of his parents. He reached the United States in 1868, made his way from the eastern sea- board to Illinois and spent one year there working in the farming regions. After com-
realized the great opportunities offered here, and it is sure that a message speedily went across the Atlantic that brought his parents to the United States in 1870. After passing a short time in Iowa they came to Hall County and spent the rest of their lives in Harrison township. At first John M. Tagge hired out to other settlers, but by 1872 he was able to buy land for himself. It was entirely unim- proved and years of hard work had to be put behind him before Mr. Tagge felt able to increase his holdings, to the improvement of which he also devoted himself. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of valuable land, situated in section 1, Harrison township, three miles from Abbott which affords him fine market facilities, and here he carries on gen- eral farming very profitably. The results of thrift and good management may be seen on every side.
Mr. Tagge married Miss Emma Ruff, whose parents were Henry M. and Christina Ruff natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Tagge have nine children : Herman, a farmer operat- ing two miles north of the homestead; John, who assists on the home farm; William, who is a farmer in Cameron township; Otto, who has returned home after eleven months service in France, with the American Expeditionary Forces, a soldier of whom his township is proud, and Freda, Amanda, Rudolph, Alfred and Arvenus, all of whom are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Tagge are members of the Lutheran church. The family is everywhere held in high regard.
JOHN RUSHEN, one of Hall County's well known and substantial farmers and stock- men, came first to Nebraska in 1878. Since then he has led a busy life, in which there have been ups and downs, and now resides on his well improved farm situated in South Loup township.
Born in Germany January 10, 1855, John Rushen was the eldest child of his parents, Jeorgen and Katherine (Stange) Rushen, the others being as follows: Mrs. Mary Kuehl, a widow, who lives at Valparaiso, Indiana; Mrs. Molly Foster, who died at Chicago, Illinois, in 1906; Lena, who died during the voyage to America from Germany and was buried at sea, and Henry, who died in infancy. The parents were natives of Germany. The mother of the above named children died at the age of thirty-six years and to a second marriage of the father the following children were born: Lena, Charles, James, Bertha
851
HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
and Emma, all of whom are living. The father was a wagonmaker by trade, an occupa- tion in which he was engaged while living at first in Chicago. From there he removed to Porter County, Indiana, where he bought forty acres of land in what was known as the White Settlement, on which the family lived for two years when he sold it and bought another farm of forty acres situated three miles north of Valparaiso. Still later he bought additional land and put up a fine house and in 1878 died there.
John Rushen attended the public schools and helped his father on the Indiana farm. In 1878 he came to Lincoln, Nebraska, and at first herded cattle for $15 a month, and then became connected with Hass, Mitchell & Com- pany, an association which continued for almost seven years. After leaving this con- cern he went into partnership with George W. Dunham as game hunters and they made their headquarters at Denton in Lancaster County, a station between Crete and Lincoln, supplying game to the Lincoln markets. The next business venture of Mr. Rushen was the renting of a ranch in Buffalo County and stocking it with cattle but he never lived on the ranch but settled at Venango, in Perkins County and carried on an implement business there for six years. Unfortunate investments caused his failure in business and he de- termined then to return to Hall County. With a team of mules he conveyed his household goods from Venango to Denver and there loaded a car for Cairo. His finances at that time were at so low an ebb that he had to borrow one dollar to finish paying for the transportation, else the railroad would not have permitted him to unload.
As soon as settled at Cairo Mr. Rushen went into the well and pump business, found it profitable and afterward, when he had succeeded in honestly paying every cent of indebtedness that misfortune had brought upon him, he moved on a part of what was once the estate of his father-in-law, and has since followed an agricultural life here. His land is situated in section 35, South Loup township, where he has found the soil par- ticularly well adapted for fruit growing and the raising of potatoes. During the past season Mr. Rushen's potato crop was con- sidered the best that came to the Grand Island market. He set out trees of all kinds and at one time was credited with having the best orchard in the county. He devotes his one hundred and twenty acres to mixed farming and pays considerable attention to his grade of livestock.
Mr. Rushen married Miss Emma Mieth, October 16, 1883, who was born at Chicago, Illniois, March 26, 1864, a daughter of August and Mary (Pingle) Mieth, natives of Ger- many. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rushen were reared in the Lutheran church. He is an independent voter but not an indifferent one because he is a good citizen. For many years he has belonged to the order of Odd Fellows.
ELMER E. VEEDER .- In the untimely death of Elmer E. Veeder the county lost one of its substantial citizens and his family a lov- ing helpmate. His death, which occurred at his home on the sixth of March, 1916, was caused from the accidental discharge of a gun while out hunting. Mr. Veeder had been a resident of the county for nearly forty years and he had improved and developed a splendid farm prop- erty in South Loup township. He was a native of Gloversville, New York, born June 19, 1861, a son of Seymour and Cordelia (Slawson) Veeder, natives of New York. They came to Nebraska, settling in Hall County in 1878, where both passed their lives. They bought raw prairie land, which the father improved until he had a fine farm.
Mr. Veeder was married in this township November 6, 1890, to Miss Bertha Mieth, a daughter of August Mieth, Sr., a record of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Veeder became the parents of three children, as follows: Francis A., who married Carrie Miks, now operates the home farm; Earl M., and Esther E.
Mr. Veeder was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of his commun- ity, and was held in the highest respect by all who knew him. He was a member of the A. O. U. W. and his remains were laid to rest in the Cairo cemetery.
RUDOLPH GLOCK was one of the highly respected citizens of Hall County and his death which occurred on his farm in South Loup township, February 24, 1917, was mourned by a host of friends as well as by his immediate family.
Rudolph Glock was born at Highland, Illinois, September 9, 1862, a son of Adolph and Anna (Iberg) Glock, the former a native of Basil, Switzerland, while the mother was born in Highland, Illinois, where they passed their lives. In 1888 Mr. Glock came to Ne- braska, bought a farm and engaged in agri- cultural pursuits.
November 23, 1891, he married Miss Ida Digitized by
1
852
HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
Mieth, a daughter of August Mieth, Sr., whose record as a pioneer will be found else- where in this history. They became the par- ents of two children : August and Anna Marie, who reside with their mother on the farm and assist in its operation.
Mr. Glock had been an invalid for many years but was successfully engaged in farming. He owned a well improved farm of eighty acres in South Loup township, where his widow and family still reside. She also owns eighty acres of her father's estate. He was a good man, a kind and loving father and held in the highest respect by all who knew him. He was reared in the Lutheran faith.
AUGUST MIETH, SR. - The man whose name introduces this record will long be re- membered as one of the pioneers of Hall County, and one of its noble citizens who has long since passed to his reward.
August Mieth, Sr., was a native of Prussia, Germany, born April 5, 1829. His parents were Christ and Anna Mieth who spent their entire lives in their native land. The son attended the schools of that country and when a young man served an apprenticeship of four years and learned the blacksmith trade. He married Miss Theodora Wyka, a native of the same province and soon after this event they emigrated to America and first lived at Falls Villa, Connecticut, moving from there to Buffalo, New York. In 1855 he became a res- ident of Chicago. While residing there he helped build the first hearse in use in the city, remaining there until 1870 when he settled at Burlington, Illinois. He worked at his trade all these years and in 1880 came to Hall County, and purchased land in South Loup township, on which he made his home until his death which occurred May 21, 1890. He was a successful farmer and at the time of his death was the owner of six hundred acres of land. His first wife, who had one child, Mary, who lived but a short time, died while they were living in Chicago, and in that city he married, in 1860, Miss Mary Pingel, a native of Germany, who died in Burlington, Illinois. She was the mother of five children, as follows: August L., who became one of Hall County's prominent farmers and passed away February 10, 1914; Emma, the wife of John Rushen, residents of Hall County ; Frederick E., who owns and occupies the old place; Bertha, the widow of E. E. Veeder, and lives in Hall County, and Ida, the widow of Rudolph Glock, resides in Hall County.
August Mieth was a man possessed of those
sterling traits of character which in every clime win the admiration of all and he left his family not only large possessions of this world's goods but also the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. As a monument to the memory of a loving parent, the family have arranged for a beautiful portrait to ap- pear in this volume.
CLINTON P. MECHAM, one of Hall County's representative men and substantial farmers, has large and valuable property inter- ests here. His coming to the state dates back forty-one years when he was a youth of nine- teen years, and the fact that before he reached his twentieth birthday, he had invested in eighty acres of land in Adams County is in- dicative of his intention to make this favored section his permanent home, living there for twenty-eight years, when in 1907 he sold and came to Hall County, locating in Center town- ship where he bought three hundred and sixty acres where he has resided for twelve years. He has been a very prominent citizen and several times has been elected to offices of trust and responsibility in Adams County.
Clinton P. Mecham was born in Grundy County, Illinois, November 9, 1859. His par- ents were Alvin T. and Lucy (Booth) Mecham. Alvin T. Mecham was born in Pennsylvania and from there removed to Illinois. In 1850 he married Lucy Booth, who died at the age of sixty-five years. They had but two children : Mrs. Chloe Armitage, who lives in Grand Island, and Clinton P., who lives on his farm in Center township. In 1878 Mr. Mecham and his family came to Nebraska, settling first in Adams and after- ward in Hall County. His death occurred at the age of eighty-one years. Clinton P. Mecham owns three hundred and sixty acres of fine land which he devotes to farming and livestock growing, taking particular interest in his thoroughbred Holstein herd, in which he has six head of pure bred cows.
On September 2, 1883, Mr. Mecham mar- ried Miss Martha Milligan, a daughter of Joseph and Martha (Parson) Milligan, the former of whom was born in Scotland and the latter in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Mecham have had six children born to them :. Earl A., a farmer near his father in Hall County; Floyd J., also a farmer in Hall County ; Flor- ence, deceased; Mrs. Harry Genn, who lives near Wood River; Glenn rents part of the home farm and Blanche, who lives at home. Mr. Mecham and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political
Digitized by
Digitized by
august Mieth &r
Digitized by
:
HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
855
affiliation is not defined because Mr. Mecham is a thoughtful, well informed man and pre- fers to vote according to his own judgment. For twelve years he served on the school board. He belongs to the order of Highlanders.
PETER HENNINGS, an enterprising and successful farmer in Center township, belongs to one of the early families of Hall County. He was born near Alda, in Hall County, Jan- uary 28, 1885, a son of Claus and Katrina Hennings, both of whom were born in Ger- many. The latter still survives.
Although his practical father set him farm tasks when he was not more than nine years old, Peter Hennings went to school and made as fair progress as other country boys in his neighborhood. He has always taken an inter- est in his farm work and because of long ex- perience understands every detail. He is operating his mother's farm, on which his father put substantial improvements, and gives considerable attention to raising Poland- China hogs. Mr. Hennings keeps well posted concerning agricultural matters and believes that a large measure of his success comes from his intelligent study of new methods as regards improved tillage, crop rotation and fertilization.
On January 27, 1915, Mr. Hennings mar- ried Miss Frieda Muhs, who was born and reared in Hall County where her parents still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Hennings have three interesting little children: Wilma, Edna and Harrold, aged respectively three, two and one year. Mr. Hennings has never identified him- self with any political party but he is a good citizen and is particularly vigilant concerning educational matters in his township and at present is serving in the office of moderator of school district No. 66. He and Mrs. Hen- nings maintain a very hospitable home and have a wide circle of friends.
ALBERT FELSKE, a reliable citizen and prosperous general farmer in Hall County, Nebraska, may almost be numbered with the county's native sons for he was only three years old when he was brought here by his parents, who were John and Henrietta (Ronke) Felske. They were natives of Ger- many who came to the United States in 1872, settling in Illinois and in that state their son Albert was born on October 29, 1877.
John Felske came to Nebraska with enough capital to buy one hundred and twenty acres of land at $5 an acre. It was located near
Abbott, and on that place Mr. Felske resided until his death in 1891. He was counted with the most careful and successful farmers in his section of the county. He and wife were highly respected by all who knew them.
Albert Felske attended school in boyhood and ever since has been engaged in farm pur- suits, beginning to operate for himself in 1902. He owns eighty acres of well developed im- proved land on which he engages in general farming including the raising of some good stock. His surroundings indicate excellent management, much thrift and plenty, and the comforts that make a well regulated farm a very desirable place on which to live. Mr. Felske married Miss Emma Schoel, a daugh- ter of Henry Schoel, a sketch of whom will be found in this work, the ceremony taking place March 6, 1902. They have one child, Edgar, who lives with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Felske are members of the Lutheran church. In politics he maintains independent views and votes according to his own judgment.
WILLARD N. HILDEBRAND, one of the intelligent, progressive young farmers and stockraisers of Hall County, is doing quite a great deal along the line of agricultural im- provement. He has adopted modern methods in all his farm work, and by example, is doing his best to raise stock standards here. He has charge of the homestead farm situated on section 29, town of Doniphan.
Mr. Hildebrand was born. September 9, 1900, in Woodford County, Illinois, and is a son of Jacob M. and Mary Frances Hilde- brand. The father was born at Afton, Vir- ginia, was reared a farmer and lived there for twenty-two years, moved then to Wood- ford County, Illinois, and after living twenty- two years in that county, came to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1907. He purchased the pres- ent home farm which contains one hundred and sixty acres and resided on it until his death when aged sixty-two years. His. burial was at Doniphan. The mother of Mr. Hilde- brand lives on the homestead. There were four children in the family, namely: Arvilla M., who died in Illinois when twenty years old; Myrtle M., who lived to the age of sixteen years also died in Illinois; Carroll D., who was born at Benson, Illinois, is a theological student in the Wesleyan University at Lincoln, and Willard W., who resides with his mother on the farm.
Since taking charge of the home farm, Mr. Hildebrand has done a large amount of im- proving. He takes much interest in his extra
Digitized by
.
856
HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA
fine livestock and aims to market ten head of Red Duroc-Jersey hogs, ten head of cattle, seven head of horses and five head of mules. He is not active in local politics, but is always ready to give assistance in movements for the general welfare. Both he and mother are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM C. MULLEN, a prominent citizen of Hall County, to which he came in 1871, following honorable service in the Civil War, owns a quarter section of valuable land situated in Center township, where he has been one of the foremost men for many years. Mr. Mullen was born in Sullivan County, New York, June 26, 1843.
The Mullen family was established early in the state of New York,, its first members probably coming from Ireland. The grand- father of William C. Mullen, Philip Mullen, fought in the Revolutionary War. The father of Mr. Mullen, Philip Mullen, was born in New York state, but his mother, Rachel (Canty) Mullen, was born in Wales and brought to this country when two years old. Five sons were born to them: Jordan, Darius, O. P., John S. and Willam Canty, the last named being the only survivor.
William C. Mullen was only eighteen years old at the outbreak of the Civil War, in which he served until its close as a member of Com- pany L, Fourteenth Illinois cavalry. He en- listed September 22, 1862, saw service under General Sherman, participating in the battles of Nashville, Cumberland Mountain and second battle of Clarksville. Being in the cavalry he took active part in many skirmishes before receiving his discharge, July 30, 1865. After the war ended he learned the stone mason and bricklaying trade. In 1871 he de- termined to take advantage of the govern- ment's offer of land in Nebraska, came to Hall County and took up a hundred and sixty acre homestead to which section his father came also in. 1873, securing a homestead of eighty acres. Like many other settlers at that time, Mr. Mullen came with no accumulated capi- tal, all he owned being a team of horses. Through use of his team he managed to keep the wolf from the door during the first hard winter, and he remembers starting out with a load of logs on one occasion, with but ten cents in his pocket, driving a distance of one hundred and fifty miles up the Loup River and being fortunate enough to sell his load to railroad builders. At one time he was captured by Indians and held captive for several hours but managed to escape and today
some of these early experiences are told for the entertainment of friends. He experienced many hardships before he could get his land in a productive condition, but kept up his cour- age, did the best he could and set an example that was not altogether lost on his neighbors. In the course of time Mr. Mullen overcame early difficulties and at present is in the enjoy- ment of an ample fortune and has a beautiful home on his large estate in Center township.
Mr. Mullen married Miss Mary Bussell, whose people came to Hall County from Eng- land when she was young. They have chil- dren as follows: Albert D., who lives at home; Arthur, who lives in Kansas; Philip, who resides in Sherman County, Nebraska; Charles, who lives at Cairo, Nebraska; George, the home farmer; Mrs. May Dumont, of Detroit, Michigan; Mrs. Lora Johansen, who lives in Grand Island; Mrs. Bertha Hightshoe, who lives at Eagle Bend, Min- nesota ; Mrs. Lula Culverson, who lives in Grand Island, and Maude, who lives with her parents. Mr. Mullen and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and attend services at Alda. For many years Mr. Mullen was active in the councils of the Republican party in Center township and is still staunchly identified with that political organization. For four years he served as school director of school district No. 39, and for five years was school treasurer, and he also has served in the office of constable. He has lived through a period of wonderful development in Hall County, and in every way within his power has done his part as a worthy and upright man and loyal citizen.
ELMER ROBERT FRANZ, an extensive farmer in Hall County, has spent almost his entire life here and is a native of Nebraska. He was born in Hamilton County, March 21, 1877, and is a son of Robert B. and Amanda (Cox) Franz, natives of Sheboygan, Wis- consin, who were married in 1876. In 1865 the father of Mr. Franz came to the territory of Nebraska. He homesteaded in Hamilton County and the family resided there until 1885 then came to Alda township, Hall County.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.