History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 84

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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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).

In March, 1903, Mr. Buenz was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Paulsen, who was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, the daughter of John Paulsen, janitor of the city hall at Grand Island. Mrs. Buenz is a grad- uate of the Grand Island High school and is a member of the English Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Buenz have two children, a son and a daughter, both in school. The former, Harold, a youth of fourteen years, is doing well in his classes, as is his sister, Helen, who is ten years old.

Mr. Buenz is by nature genial and com- panionable and thus has identified himself with a number of fraternal and social organ- izations. These include several well known German organizations more or less musical in character, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Elks and the Eagles, and for six years he served as secretary of the last named order. Mr. Buenz is generous and benevolent and always may be depended upon to do his part in support of local charities.

ROY H. DAVISON. - One of Hall County's native sons who has found it conveni- ent to remain here and is making good use of his opportunities is the subject of this record,

who is succesfully carrying on farming pur- suits in Center township.

Roy H. Davison was born on his father's farm in this township, April 3, 1891, the son of Henry Davison, a retired farmer now liv- ing in Grand Island, a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this history.

The boy was reared on the farm, educated in the public schools and when he became a man wisely chose the occupation with which he was familiar and is now operating two hundred forty acres belonging to his father.

October 10, 1910, he was united in marriage to Miss Ella Jane White, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of Porter and Mattie White, who now reside at Alda, Nebraska. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Davison has been blessed with two children : Ralph L. and Paul I.

Mr. and Mrs. Davison are active members of the Methodist church and are highly es- teemed young people of their community.

JAMES E. LYLE, county clerk of Hall County, Nsbraska, most acceptably fills this important public office. The county clerk's duties are often arduous and very frequently the business of his office brings him close to his fellow citizens as an individual, and thus not only is his ability an important factor, but personality also. In the county clerk's office in Grand Island is found order and efficiency, together with the courtesy that facilitates bus- iness and leaves agreeable memories.

James E. Lyle was born in Adams County. Illinois, January 10, 1870. His parents were James and Mary M. (Haggerty) Lyle, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in Kentucky. After their marriage they settled in Adams County, Illinois, where they resided until 1873 when they removed to Mis- souri, and both died in that state. Of their family of ten children the following survive: John, a rural mail carrier since leaving his farm, lives in York County, Nebraska ; May, the wife of J. W. Miller, lives in Missouri; James E .; and Arthur, a resident of Arizona. The father of the above family was a Repub- lican in politics and a member of the Presby- terian church. The mother belonged to the Christian church.

Three years old when his father sold his Illinois farm and bought another in Missouri, Mr. Lyle has no memories of his native state. He attended the district schools near his home in Missouri and remained on the farm until about eighteen years old. The death of his father four years prior to this, placed heavy re -; sponsibilities on his shoulders. After leaving

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home he learned to be a telegraph operator and this led to his coming to Nebraska, in 1892, as an operator and agent on the Burling- ton railroad, being so occupied until 1910, hav- ing come to Grand Island in 1903. In 1911 Mr. Lyle came into the office of the county clerk of Hall County as deputy where he con- tinued in that capacity until 1916, when he was elected county clerk. He has had con- siderable experience in the political field and is an ardent Republican.

Mr. Lyle married September 1, 1897, Miss Effie A. Scovill, who was born in Hamilton County, Nebraska. Her father, the late Sena- tor D. A. Scovill was a prominent and in- fluential man in Hamilton County for many years. He served as sheriff of Hamilton County and later as a member of the Ne- braska House of Representatives and still later as a member of the upper house of the General Assembly. Senator Scovill died in Hamilton County. His widow survives and makes her home with her daughter .Mrs. Lyle.

Mr. and Mrs. Lyle have four children : Al- bert, at the time of writing a soldier in the United States army, is in the training camp at Camp Humphreys, Virginia ; and Luella, Helen and Mildred, all of whom are in school. Mr. Lyle and his family are members of the Con- gregational church. He is identified fratern- ally with the Odd Fellows, in which organiza- tion he has passed three chairs, and with the Woodmen of the World, in which he is clerk of the local camp. Always an active and public spirited citizen, since the inauguration of mili- tary and charitable agencies in relation to the World War, Mr. Lyle has been an indefatig- able worker and has cheerfully and unselfishly given his energies to the work along govern- ment appointed lines and is secretary of the local war board. His patriotic example has had much to do with the great success in Hall County of the various war projects and activities.

Mr. Lyle is a member of board of education now serving his second term.

GUSTAVE SIEVERS'S record as sheriff of Hall County for three successive terms, is highly creditable both to himself and to the county. He commands universal respect from the law abiding element for official efficiency, but in addition because of his personal integ- rity and patriotic citizenship. Since the age of eleven years he has belonged to the United States. He was born in Holstein, Germany, July 29, 1858. His parents were Henry and Wilhelmina (Starken) Sievers.

Henry Sievers was born and reared in Germany and there learned the carpenter trade and became a thoroughly skilled work- man. In. 1869 he emigrated with his family to the United States and in the following year removed to Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked at his trade until 1871, when he took up a homestead in Howard County. He was one of the earliest settlers there and the family went through many unavoidable pio- neer hardships that form a part of early settlement in any section. They lived on the Howard County homestead for many years and then came to Grand Island and here both parents of Sheriff Sievers died. They were faithful members of the Lutheran church. After becoming a citizen Henry Sievers for a number of years voted with the Republican party, but in later life he was a Democrat. Of his six children the following survive: Louisa, the wife of Fred Rohling, a retired business man of Grand Island; Caroline, the wife of Henry Paustian, who is a farmer near Denver, Colorado; and Henry, who lives re- tired at Long Beach, California.

Gustave Sievers was not satisfied with his educational acquirements secured in boyhood, and after his father had settled in Nebraska and work on a farm became his portion, he took over the matter of educating himself, diligently applying himself as he found oppor- tunity, to books of a practical nature, with the result that he is a man of wide information on varied subjects. Although much of his life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, he has been deeply interested in politics since he was twenty-one years old and experience has brought him judgment in this field. His sympathies have always been with the aims of the Democratic party and in all his polit- ical life he has been intensely loyal to this organization. In January, 1912, he was ap- pointed sheriff of Hall County and approval was shown of his administration of the office by his thrice being elected to it. He is a mem- ber of various patriotic bodies and is a mem- ber of the local draft board. Sheriff Sievers maintains his home in Grand Island but he owns a valuable farm in Hall County.

Sheriff Sievers married January 25, 1883, Miss Annie Wichman, who was born at Madison, Wisconsin. Her father the late Joseph Wichman, was born in Germany and in early life came to the United states settling in Wisconsin in 1850. In 1873 he moved with his family to Howard County, Nebraska, and there took up a homestead that continued to be the home of himself and wife until she passed away at the age of ninety years. He years gie Digitized by

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survived her, passing away at the age of ninety-seven years. Sheriff and Mrs. Sievers have three children, namely: Alma, who re- sides with her parents, the widow of Martin Erickson, but now the wife of John Irvine of Howard County; Clara, the wife of John Frauen, of Merrick County, Nebraska; and Joe, who has served as deputy under his father, lives in Grand Island. Although home affairs and political duties have pretty well absorbed Mr. Sievers's time and attention for some years, the claims of fraternal life have interested him to some degree. He was one of the charter members in the organization of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Grand Is- land and belongs also to the Elks.

FREDERICK MATHIESEN, who is in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad, in the car repairing department, is a native of Hall County. The Mathiesen family came to this section of Nebraska at a very early day, and its representatives from then until the present, have been people of industry, thrift and ster- ling character.

Frederick Mathiesen was born in Hall County, Nebraska, November 14, 1896, a son of Frederick and Sophia (Luth) Mathiesen. The father was born on the homestead in Hall County which his father secured, July 13, 1867, spent his life on the place as a farmer, passing away August 17, 1906. On September 15, 1894 he married Sophia Luth, who was born in Iowa. Her parents were Frederick and Minnie (Ronfelt) Luth, natives of Germany, who came to the United states in 1868. The seven surviving members of the eight children of the Ronfelt family, all live within or near Hall County, Nebraska. The parents of Mr. Mathiesen had five children, four of whom are living, namely : Frederick, Harry, Arnold and Otto. Two years after Mr. Mathiesen's death, his widow was married to Edward Stuhr, of Grand Island, and they have two children, namely: Viola, who was born July 4, 1910; and Eddie, who was born November 21, 1912.

Frederick Mathiesen lived on the old family homestead, until the age of twenty, when he found employment on farms in the neighbor- hood. He was busy as a farmer from the close of his schooldays until 1918 when he went to work in his present position. Like his father in many ways, he has the same political opin- ions and gives support to the Democratic party. As a young man of fine character, he has many friends in Washington township. He married Miss Blanche McIntyre, of Omaha.

WILLIAM SUHR, an active citizen of Grand Island, as county attorney, has an offi- cial record behind him that emphasizes the fact that he is a very able and conscienti- ous member of the bar of Hall County. Mr. Suhr is yet a young man and his professional advance has been rapid, considering the competition he has faced at Grand Island, where the bar has many recognized legal lights.

William Suhr was born in Crawford County, Iowa, January 31, 1886.

He attended the public schools in Crawford County, Iowa, and in 1901 was graduated from Westside high school. Already he had made choice of a profession, but as circumstances did not at that time open the way for contin- ued study of the law, the young man accepted employment in a hardware and furniture store. He afterward traveled for two and half years for the Simmons Hardware Company. Sub- sequently he studied law in the Nebraska Uni- versity and also pursued special courses in the University of Michigan. He was admitted to the bar in 1914 and entered into practice at Grand Island, which city has continued to be his home ever since. Intelligently interested from early manhood in public questions, Mr. Suhr identified himself with the Democratic party and as a candidate of this organization, was elected county attorney in the fall of 1916. He has applied himself very closely to his pro- fessional duties and has won the approbation and entire confidence of his fellow citizens. He has numerous social and fraternal connec- tions. He is a member in Lodge No. 33, A. F. & A. M. and Lodge No. 604, P. P. O. E., both in Grand Island.

FRED A. BUCHFINCK, who is a pro- gressive and enterprising young farmer of Hall County, has lived on the old homestead in Lake township all his life. He was born in Hall County, Nebraska, May. 25, 1898, a son of August and Anna (Niemoth) Buchfinck, who now live retired at Grand Island.

August Buchfinck, father of Fred A., was born in Russia and was fourteen years old when he came to the United States. In 1873 he came to Grand Island and found work with a farmer and the $83 he earned the first year was his start in business. During the second year .he was paid $12 a month and thereby he was able to buy a team of mules, using these within another year he had a paying job work- ing for the railroads. He helped build the Burlington road from Hastings west to Utah and also was employed on the Oregon Short Line. He then took a homestead in Grant Digitized by Google

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County of which he is still owner, together with his homestead and sixteen sections, hav- ing in Hall County 320 acres, in Merrick County 480 acres, and 320 in Howard County. His industry during his active years was un- ceasing, and his business judgment remarkable. He is one of the directors of the Grand Island State Bank and has other interests. He mar- ried Anna Niemoth, who was born at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and of their ten children, the fol- lowing survive: Clara, who is the wife of Albert Beyersdorf, of Lake township; Freda, who is the wife of Paul Beyersdorf, of Leat, Nebraska ; John L., who lives in Grant County, married Grace Wright; Fred A., who farms in Lake township; and Amelia, Arthur and Myrtle, all of whom reside at home.

Fred A. Buchfinck had superior educational advantages. After completing the public school course in Hall County, he entered Mid- land College, at Atchison, Kansas, and later spent a year in a military academy at Kearney, since which time he has been devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits in Lake town- ship.

On February 16, 1918, Mr. Buchfinck was united in marriage to Miss Rose L. Torney, who is a daughter of John and Katie (Stadler) Torney, of Kearney County. They are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the Farmer's Union. Mr. Buchfinck is very well thought of, and he and wife have a pleas- ant social circle.

JOHN F. MATTHEWS, principal of the Grand Island High school is a well known educator of Hall County and an upright citi- zen in every relation of life. With some indi- viduals, school teaching is looked upon as a kind of helping hand to be engaged in for a more or less limited period while awaiting opportunities along other lines, but fortunate it is for the youth of the country that there are men in the profession whose every energy is engaged and whose greatest ambition is to competently point the way to solid educational attainment. An educator of this type guides the destinies of the high school in Grand Island.

John F. Matthews was born at Kennard, in Washington County, Nebraska, November 27, 1870. His parents were John A. and Agnes (Connolly) Matthews, the former of whom, now a resident of Grand Island, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and the latter, now deceased, was a native of Ireland. They were the parents of four children: Thomas P., in the real estate business at Grand Island ;

John F .; Catherine and Agnes, the former a bookkeeper and the latter a stenographer. In 1869 the father of Professor Matthews located at Kennard, Nebraska, and for many years afterward was a railroad man. He is an honored veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1861 in Company E, Seventy- seventh New York, in the unit known as the Excelsior brigade. He was wounded during the advance on Petersburg and subsequently was captured by the enemy and for six months was incarcerated in Libby prison.

It is possible that Mr. Matthews can not remember a time when he was not interested in school work, for he became a student early and in 1888 was graduated from the Grand Island High school. His choice of a profession was. quickly made and from that time to the pres- ent, Grand Island has benefited through his. earnest efforts as a school teacher. Since 1897 he has been principal of the high school,. which, as an educational institution, reflects great credit on the city, its many graduates finding themselves well prepared for the vari- ous careers to which their tastes and talents direct them, all of which, in modern days, de- mand a sound educational foundation.

In no sense of the word is Mr. Matthews a politician, but he is a wide awake, progres- sive citizen and as such takes an interest in civic affairs, casting his vote with the Demo- cratic party. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen and with the Knights of Columbus, in the latter order he has served both as grand knight and district deputy. In many representative educational bodies his intelligent co-operation has been invited, par- ticularly in county institute work. He has been one of the instructors at Kearney, and for the past six years he has been treasurer of the Nebraska State Teachers' Association. The family as a whole belong to the Roman Catho- lic church.

BENJAMIN J. CUNNINGHAM, a lead- ing representative of the legal profession in Grand Island, has been located in the county seat for almost a decade and is thoroughly identified with public interests. He has built up a fine practice that has secured him honor- able consideration from bench and bar as well as the cofidence of the community in his in- tegrity as well as his ability.

Mr. Cunningham was born in Wood River,. Hall County, Nebraska, November 22, 1888. His parents are Michael J. and Catherine (Meade) Cunningham, retired residents of Wood River. The father was born in Nova born in Nova Digitized by

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Scotia, August 23, 1849, and the mother in Ireland, February 2, 1850. Their marriage took place in Lowell, Massachusetts. In 1878 they came to Hall County, and the father bought a farm near Wood River and that continued to be the family home until 1913, when re- moval was made to the village. The family consists of five children, namely : Joseph H., a farmer and stockman near Wood River; John C., in the stock commission business at Omaha; Mary, who resides with her parents; Edward L., in the commission busines at Omaha ; and B. J.

B. J. Cunningham had public school ad- vantages and was graduated from the Wood River High school in 1906. His training in the law was secured in the Creighton Law School, Omaha, from which he was graduated in 1910. He entered into practice in Grand Island, where he shortly afterward found pro- fessional encouragement and as time went on became well and favorably known not only in the law but likewise in the political field. In 1912 he was elected county attorney on the Democratic ticket and was re-elected in 1914, and on three occasions he has been elected chairman of the Democratic executive com- mittee of Hall County. His parents have al- ways been faithful members of the Roman Catholic church and he belongs also to this re- ligious body. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, the B. P. O. E. and the F. O. E.

FRANK E. SLUSSER was born in Jasper County, Iowa, July 11, 1868. His parents were Rev. F. M. and Nancy (Yocum) Slusser. His father, who was a Methodist minister, was an early settler in Jasper County, being a native of the state of Pennsylvania, who came west at an early day to locate west of the Mississippi River. Both parents died in Iowa.

F. E. Slusser obtained his early school train- ing in Jasper County and spent his boyhood on a farm. In 1887 he came to Nebraska and two years later secured a position as clerk in the First National Bank at Wood River, in that same institution he worked his way stead- ily upward, serving as assistant cashier, vice- president and then president. The First National is one of the soundest institutions in the county, with a capital of $40,000, and sur- plus $40,000, and average deposits of $350,- 000. Additionally, Mr. Slusser has banking interests at other points, being a member of the board of directors of the State Bank at Clarks, in Merrick County, and also of the Citizens State Bank at Archer, in the same county ..

In politics Mr. Slusser is a sound Repub- lican. In the fall of 1902 he was elected county treasurer and was re-elected in 1904. He owns considerable property, mainly farm lands, and at present devotes his time largely to handling real estate.

Mr. Slusser married in 1914 Miss Gussie Towne, who was born at Grand Island, Ne- braska, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth Ann. Mrs. Slusser belongs to numerous so- cial bodies and is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Slusser was reared in the Metho- dist Episcopal church and has always contin- ued in this connection. He is a member of Masonic bodies, Blue lodge, Royal Arch and Knights Templar and is a Shriner, and while residing in Wood River was master of the Blue lodge. He belongs also to the Elks and Odd Fellows and takes an interest in business and political organizations of the city and county.

HON. JAMES R. HANNA, was elected judge of the District Court of the 11th Judicial district of Nebraska in 1904. During eighteen years previous to that he had been engaged in the practice of law at Greeley. In a judicial capacity for fifteen years it has been his busi- ness to discern the actions and purposes of men, and it is generally recognized by prac- titioners and litigants that the Judge is well informed on procedure and inspires confi- dence in the prompt and impartial administra- tion of justice. He is also widely known in financial cirlces. He is president of the Greeley State Bank, of the Brayton State Bank, and of the Nebraska State Bank of Grand Island.

Judge Hanna was born at Vinton, Iowa, February 21, 1861, a son of Alex and Rose (Watson) Hanna, natives of Wooster, Ohio, both of whom are deceased. The parents re- moved to Iowa in 1857, took up land in that state, and there passed the remainder of their lives in agricultural pursuits. The father was a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna be- longed to the Presbyterian church, in the faith of which they reared their six children, of whom five are living: Belle, a teacher in the Presbyterian College at Abingdon, Virginia; J. W., a retired farmer of Vinton, Iowa, and president of the Farmers Savings Bank of Garrison, that state; W. H., vice-president of the Peoples Savings Bank of Vinton; Judge James R .; and Dr. H. H., a physician and surgeon of Waterloo, Iowa.

James R. Hanna received his early educa- tion in the public schools of his native com-

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munity, following which he attended Cornell of Omaha. He is also a member of the (Iowa) College, graduating in 1884. For Board of Trustees of Grand Island College, and of the Board of Directors for the local several years he was a student of law at Vin- ton, being admitted to practice in Des Moines, ' Y. M. C. A. in 1886. Beginning his professional career in Vinton, in 1887 he removed to Greeley, Ne- braska, where he entered upon a successful ARTHUR L. JOSEPH. - In the compar- atively short but uniformly, progressive carreer of Arthur L. Joseph, of Grand Island, several personal traits are quite noticeable. Among these may be mentioned versatility of talents combined with thoroughness of prep- aration and depth of legal knowledge. A practitioner of this community since 1909, he has steadily advanced in his calling and in public prominence. At the present time he is capably discharging the duties connected with the office of city attorney. career in the law. Like all young lawyers, and especially those who have no large financial backing, he was forced to go through a pro- bationary period, but his, because of his fine abilities, was shorter than many others, and so rapidly did he come to the forefront that when he was only twenty-six years old he' was elected a member of the State Legislature from Greeley County. During the next eight- een years he continued in practice, gaining prestige, prominence and reputation in his profession. In 1904 he was elected judge of the District Court of the 11th Judicial district of Nebraska, a position which he has contin- ued to hold. His record on the bench is one of the best. With all his years of experience with the delinquent element of human society, while it has sharpened his insight into the faults and guile of mankind, Judge Hanna has preserved and constantly manifests a kindli- ness and sympathy in his dealings with liti- gants that make him one of the most esteemed judges in the state. His unfailing common sense saves him from the pedantry of law, and having been a close and thorough student under the impetus of his own determination, he has become fully and practically equipped to meet any emergency within the scope of his judicial duties.

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 84

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