History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 89

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011

USA > Nebraska > Hall County > History of Hall County, Nebraska > Part 89

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).

Frank Iver Olsen continued in school until he completed the high school course and then associated with his father in the grocery bus- iness ; he progressed rapidly, having had en- tire charge of his present large store since 1899 and in the main has always been a successful business man. He has the natural trading instinct and as his operations have been carried on along many lines, there have been some reverses, but as a rule, his plans have turned out advantageously and his under- takings have not been disappointing. At the present time Mr. Olsen owns tracts of land in nineteen states, and in Grand Island. Aside from his grocery business he is interested in hardware and is one of the owners of the Grand Island Tin Company.

Digitized by Google

633

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

Mr. Olsen married, in 1902, Miss Maude E. Denman, who was born on a farm near Alda, Nebraska, a daughter of A. C. Denman, a wealthy farmer of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Olsen have three sons: Frank E., a youth of sixteen; Alfred A., yet in school; and Donald E. Mrs. Olsen and the children attend the Congregational church. Mr. Olsen is a Republican in his views on public ques- tions, and fraternally is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Danish Brotherhood. He stands among his fellow citizens as an able, upright business man representative of the best interests here.

JAMES E. HANNA, the well known hard- ware merchant on Fourth street, Grand Island, came to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1888, and has been a resident of this city for twenty-three years. He is not only an enter- prising and successful business man, but is also a leader in civic matters. For the past ten years he has served as a member of the city council.

Mr. Hanna was born in La Salle county, Illinois, September 1, 1855, the eldest of five children born to Alexander and Amanda (Graves) Hanna, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They were married there and early in the fifties removed to Illinois, where the father of Mr. Hanna engaged for some years in farming, before he removed to Kansas, where he lived till his death. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served two years in that struggle. In politics a Dem- ocrat, on that party ticket he was elected to the important office of county supervisor while living in Illinois. The mother of Mr. Hanna passed her last years in Grand Island. One son, Joseph, died in this city, January 12, 1919. The two surviving daughters are: Cora, in the millinery business at Chicago, and Maggie, the wife of J. T. Long, who is in the real estate business at Creston, Iowa. The parents were members of the Presby- terian church.

James E. Hanna attended the county schools and worked on his father's farm in Illinois. In 1888 he came to Nebraska and bought a farm in Hall County on which he resided until 1896, when he came to Grand Island. For some years he continued manager for the Woodruff Coal & Lumber Company. After- ward he established his present hardware store in association with his son Ralph.

Mr. Hanna married in 1877 Miss Etta Day, who died shortly after coming to Nebraska. Three sons were born to them,namely : Arthur,

who operates the home farm north of Grand Island; Ralph, in business with his father; and Frank, who died at the age of twenty-one years. Mr. Hanna married a second time, in 1900, Miss Reta Holmes, who was born in Illinois. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Hanna is an independent thinker and voter. He belongs to the order of Maccabees, being an important man in this city.

HANS P. HANSEN, proprietor of one of the leading grocery houses of Grand Island, has been established here for over fifteen years, building up, in the meanwhile, a solid reputation for business integrity. While largely devoting himself to grocery interests, Mr. Hansen has had sufficient enterprise to ·find an additional profitable business in another direction.

He was born in Merrick County, Nebraska, June 27, 1874, the elder of two children born to Niels and Carrie (Petersen) Hansen. His one brother, Linnie M., is deceased. The parents of Mr. Hansen came to the United States from Denmark, in the late sixties, came . west, and on reaching Nebraska located in Merrick County on a homestead. The father died on his Merrick County farm, which the mother still occupies. . He was a quiet, in- dustrious man with no political ambitions but he declared his views in voting with the Re- publican party. He was a member of the Lutheran church as is also his widow.

The country schools in Merrick County provided Mr. Hansen with a satisfactory gen- eral education and he later supplemented this by taking a course in a business college at Grand Island. For a number of years the operation of the home farm engaged his at- tention although he also worked at butter- making for some time. In 1903 he came to Grand Island and embarked in the grocery business and now has a very extensive trade. He was one of the first business men here who saw the possible advantage in selling auto- mobiles as a side line and for about five years has made the handling of the Reo cars a fea- ture of his business, being exceedingly suc- cessful.

Mr. Hansen married May 8, 1899, Miss Etta McClenithan, who was born in Vermont but married in Grand Island. They have two children: Opal, who assists in her father's store; and Juanita. Mr. Hansen is identified with a number of fraternal organizations of well known stability, among these being the Danish Brotherhood of America, the Royal Digitized by

634

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

Neighbors, the Modern Woodmen and the Odd Fellows. In all public matters pertaining to the best interests of Grand Island he is ever ready to give help and earnest cooperation, but he has always preferred to remain inde- pendent of political party ties.

JULIUS P. F. LESCHINSKY. - V/hile Grand Island has gladly and sensibly accr pted and forwarded the development of its many practical business houses, it has not been un- mindful of other things. It recognizes the influence borne by true art in the cultural edu- cation of the people. Thus so talented and widely experienced a photograhic artist as Julius P. F. Leschinsky feels perfectly at home here, and since locating permanently in this city, through his fine work has given a great impetus to art in his own as well as other lines.

Mr. Leschinsky was born in Deutsch Eylau, West Prussia, December 21, 1860. His parents were Frederick and Augusta (Dombrowsky) Leschinsky, who were born and died in West Prussia. The father was an architect and builder. To his first marriage but one son was born, Julius P. F. To a second marriage eight children were born, one of whom, Max, is a merchant in Loup City, Nebraska.

In 1880 Mr. Leschinsky came to Grand Island, Nebraska. He had attended the high school at Loebau, Germany, and had already had some business experience as a clerk and bookkeeper. He was variously engaged dur- ing the first year after coming here, then se- cured a school to teach being engaged thus for three years in Merrick County. During vacations he occupied himself as a bookkeeper and in studying photography, toward which his artistic talent inclined him. In 1884 he opened his first studio. Not as yet well enough known, he did not have sufficient capital to carry on a business for himself, therefore . seven months later he closed the studio, and for some months worked in other studios in Nebraska and also in Kansas. He then pur- chased a portable studio, carrying on business in Washington and Greenleaf, Kansas, and later at Harvard, Nebraska, operating suc- cessfully for two years. He then brought his portable studio to Grand Island, occupied it for four years but when opportunity came he moved into the studio formerly occupied by Mr. Murphy. In the meanwhile the fame of his artistic work spread abroad and in 1894 he was able to build the front portion of his present fine studio and since then has been compelled because of patronage, to enlarge the original studio to fully five times its early

capacity. In 1915 he opened an art shop in Grand Island, where lovers of art may gratify their taste for the beautiful. He has been one of the prime movers in photographic organizations in Nebraska. For years he has been signally honored by many representative bodies. He was one of the organizers of the Nebraska Photographers Association and three times was its president. For a quarter of a century it was conducted as a Nebraska body exclusively, but has been amalgamated with similar organizations in Missouri and Kansas. On numerous occasions he has re- ceived gold and silver medals for his perfec- tion in photography. He is also a member of the National Photographic Association of America and on one occasion was elected a delegate to the same. Mr. Leschinsky married, September 30, 1888, Miss Minnie Doll, who was born in New York, a daughter of Carl Doll, who was born in Schleswig-Holstein. He came to. Grand Island in the seventies, to engage in work as a cabinetmaker. Mr. Doll had served three years as a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Leschinsky : Os- wald Frederick Carl, born in Grand Island, July 21, 1889, now in business with his father; and Armand Julius Paul, born in Grand Is- land, March 16, 1893. His brave young life went out in France, October 19, 1918. He studied in the Grand Island schools and also took a course in the Baptist College. Entering the National army at Camp Dodge, Iowa, May 28, 1918, he was sent with the American Expeditionary Force to France, where after exhibition of soldierly qualities which brought a beautiful tribute from his commanding officer, Capt. H. M. Baldridge, Battery F, 338th Field Artillery, he succumbed to pneu- monia. He was greatly beloved in Grand Is- land. Mr. Leschinsky is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen, the Maccabees, the Fraternal Aid Union and the Liederkranz and has been president of the last named organization.

OSCAR ROESER, the head of a widely known mercantile house known as the Bee Hive store, which he erected from small beginnings, has been a resident of Grand Island for over forty years.

He was born in the township of Tittaba- wassee, Saginaw County, Michigan, January 4, 1852. His parents were William and Theresa (Vasold) Roeser, both of whom were born in Germany. They came to the United . States in 1849 and 1850 respectively, being Digitized by

IIISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

635

JULIUS LESCHINSKY AND FAMILY

Digitized by

Google

. 1

636

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

married in Michigan. They purchased gov- ernment land in Saginaw County in 1850 for $1.25 per acre. It was timber and had to be cleared to be used for farming. He cultivated a part of his land, and after the railroad was built, in 1864, Mr. Wm. Roeser laid out and platted his entire farm, establishing thereon what is now the flourishing little town of Freeland. In 1852 he started in the mer- cantile business, beginning on a very small scale in one of his living rooms. Being sit- uated on the banks of the Tittabawassee River, about fifty per cent of his customers were Chippewa Indians, who usually travelled in canoes on the river. After the coming of the railroad he built a new store and enlarged his business, supplying many neighboring lumber camps. Of the family of ten children seven sons and one daughter survive, the two in Hall County being Oscar and Albert, the latter a salesman for agricultural imple- ments in Grand Island.

Oscar Roeser obtained his education in the public schools and assisted his father in the store and with the farm. In 1876 he taught school for one term, thereby earning the money to enable him to buy a railroad ticket to Grand Island. (In those days western rail- road fare was five and six cents per mile.) He arrived there May 15, 1877 and soon secured employment as manager of the lumber yard belonging to his uncle, Fred Hedde. He con- tinued there for four and a half years. In the fall of 1881 he embarked in the grocery busi- ness in a small way in partnership with Louis Veit, under the firm name of Veit and Roeser. This business was continued until 1886 when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Roeser then started the Bee Hive store, where he has built up a large retail grocery and chinaware business, in which he is now as- sisted by his two sons. Since 1886 he has occupied the same quarters at No. 115 West Third Street, one of the city's business land- marks.

Mr. Roeser married, in 1884, Miss Minnie Stolley, who is a daughter of the late William Stolley, a pioneer settler of Hall County. He was one of the first children born in the county. The father of Mrs. Roeser died in 1912, but the mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Roeser have three children; two sons and one daughter: Emil F., manager of his father's store, married Frieda Detlefsen and they have two sons, Herbert and Erwin; Oscar F., who went to France with the Amer- ican Expeditionary Forces, April 28, 1918, as a member of the 89th Division, Three Hun- dred and Fifty-fifth Infantry, was wounded

in the hand in November, 1918, during the battles of the Argonne Forest; and Elsa O., who resides at home.

In his political views, Mr. Roeser is a Re- publican. In 1900 he was elected county supervisor and served continuously for five and a half years, having been chairman of the building committee during the construction of the fine Hall County courthouse, and chair- man of the board when the building was first occupied. He belongs to several organizations of a social nature at Grand Island and has been a director in the Liederkranz for many years; also a director of the Commercial Club and president a number of times of the Retail Merchants' Association.

WILLIAM I. BLAIN .- The development of some lines of business in Nebraska has been the natural result of climate, demand and opportunity, and this applies particularly to the horse, mule and cattle industry, which represents heavy capital investment and the enlistment of shrewd, astute business men to conduct affairs. This has become a source of great wealth to Hall County, and probably no section in the state can show more sub- stantial results. One of the men largely inter- ested and of wide experience, is William I. Blain, organizer and general manager of the Blaine Horse, Mule & Cattle Company of Grand Island.

William I. Blain was born in Pella, Marion County, Iowa, June 1, 1874, the fifth in a family of eleven children, nine of whom are living. His parents were William C. and Susan Elizabeth (Hays) Blain, natives of West Virginia. They were brought to Iowa in childhood, grew up and married there, com- ing to Custer County, Nebraska, in 1887. Both died in this state. They belonged to that great body of good people who lived quiet, simple, useful lives, worthy of emulation in their sincerity and unselfishness.

After completing his public school course at Mason City, Nebraska, William I. Blain assisted on his father's farm, an occupation he followed until 1897, when he went into the horse business at Staplehurst, Nebraska, later at Schuyler and still later was active in the business in Denver. In 1911 he came to Grand Island and became identified with the Grand Island Horse & Mule Market where he has been auctioneer since its start. In October, 1915, Mr. Blain founded the Blain Horse & Mule Company, which has also handled cattle since 1917 and now operates as the Blain Horse, Mule & Cattle Company,

637

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

with a capital of $15,000. N. L. Troelstrup is president of the company, W. W. Wimberly is secretary and treasurer, and Mr. Blain is general manager. A general commission bus- iness is done and the future looks favorable for a still greater volume than ever before.

Mr. Blain married March 24, 1894, Miss Jennie M. Crouse, who was born in Seward County, Nebraska, and is a daughter of D. W. Crouse, who was one of the earliest settlers in that section, locating permanently in Seward County long before any railroads had been constructed. Mr. and Mrs. Blain have had five children: Otto I., Frank K., Velma, Harry and Ethel, the latter dying in infancy. Mrs. Blain is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church in Grand Island. Mr. Blain gives his political support to the Republican party but in matters of general importance in seasons of national stress, he holds a liberal mind and works for the general good. For many years he has belonged to the Masonic fraternity.

HENRY J. VOSS, cigar manufacturer at Grand Island, may be named as a substantial business man and representative and dependa- ble citizen. He is well known in Hall County and has served two years as a member of the board of county supervisors, on which he has shown excellent business judgment and com- mendable public spirit.

Mr. Voss was born in Holstein, Germany, June 24, 1862. His parents were John and Katherine (Hermenson) Voss, natives of Germany, from which country they came to the United States, settling in Grand Island, Nebraska, in 1881. John Voss was a general laborer at first but through industry acquired capital which he invested in land and from then until his death he was engaged in farm- ing. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. They had three children, two daughters and one son: Mar- garet, the wife of John Paulsen, of Grand Island; H. J .; and Lena, the wife of Fred Soll, who is in the clothing business at Baker, Oregon.

After his school period was over, Mr. Voss engaged in farming until 1885, when he came to Grand Island and began the manufacture of cigars, to which he has since devoted his attention. From time to time he has expanded the scope of his business until now it is one of large proportions, his factory turning out from 300,000 to 500,000 cigars a year. On account of the excellence of his product he finds a ready market and there is a particularly

heavy demand for his leading brands, the Examiner, the A O D, and the 1900.

Mr. Voss married, in 1887, Miss Emma Wulf, who was born at Keil, Germany, and was brought to the United States by her par- ents when two years old. Mr. and Mrs. Voss have had the following children: Lena, who married Brewer Beck, of Grand Island; they have one child, Evelyn ; Fred, a railroad man ; Clara, who died at the age of seven years ; Harry, who is married and has one daughter, Ruth ; Ella, a bookkeeper; Anna, who married Charles Westphal, a railroad man, has one child, Lorine; Gustave, a mechanic with an automobile concern ; Lola, employed in a lead- ing Grand Island store; and Mable, Leona, Raymond, Margaret and Dorothy, all of whom are at home. Mr. Voss and family attend the English Lutheran church in Grand Island. The children are much interested in the work of the Sunday school. In politics Mr. Voss is a Democrat and somewhat active in his party and, as mentioned above, is one of the county supervisors. Fraternally he belongs to the order of Eagles, the T. P. A., the Sons of Herman, the Liederkranz and the Platts- deutchen, and was for many years president of the last named organization.

MAX JACOB VOSS, whose activities in dairy farming have brought him success and standing as a substantial citizen of his com- munity in Hall County during recent years, is the owner of a property in Mayfield town- ship that has been a family possession since 1872. It was in that year that his father, Fred Voss, a sketch of whose career appears on another page of this work, came to the United States from Germany, took up his residence in Hall County, where the greater part of his subsequent career has been passed. He still resides in the county and is in the enjoyment of a comfortable competence, gained through a long career of industry.

Max Jacob Voss was born at St. Libory, Howard County, Nebraska, April 5, 1883, a son of Fred and Wibke (Krone) Voss. He received his education in the public schools and in his youth and young manhood assisted his father in the cultivation of lands in Howard and Hall Counties, so that his train- ing was entirely along agricultural lines. When it came time for him to adopt a vocation of his own and to enter upon his independent career, he selected farming and dairying as his oc- cupations, and now is farming 200 acres of good land in Mayfield township, which belongs to his father, a part of which is the orgininal

638

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

homestead secured by his father in.1872. Of needed to defray expenses to complete their recent years Mr. Voss has given more and law studies. In February, 1879, John R. opened an office in Grand Island, Nebraska, while the brother remained in Iowa. In June, 1881, W. H. came to Grand Island and the partnership continued until 1892, when John R. Thompson was elevated to the bench of the district court of the eleventh judicial dis- trict, consisting of eleven counties, where he served three successive terms of four years each. His decisions were always fair and impartial and he was held in the highest esteem by members of the bar and by all with whom he came in contact. After this he continued the practice of his profession until his death, September 29, 1915. more of his attention to dairy work, and now has a fine herd of thirty-five head of cattle, but while he has built up an extensive and profitable business in this connection, he is also engaged to some extent in general farm- ing. His improvements are modern in char- acter and in his work he expresses a tendency toward progressiveness. His standing as a business man is an excellent one and the quality of his citizenship has never been ques- tioned. Mr. Voss is independent in his views upon political matters, and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He has never felt the need of fraternal connections to round out his enjoyment of life.

Mr. Voss was united in marriage with Lillian Young, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, daughter of S. Young, who is engaged in general farming in that county. They have no children of their own, but are rearing an adopted son, Joe.

JUDGE JOHN RICHARD THOMPSON was one of the prominent citizens of Grand Island where for more than thirty-six years he was a leading lawyer and served as judge of this district for three consecutive terms.

Mr. Thompson was born at Perryville, Ohio, August 6, 1850, a son of Eli and Eliza (Kirby) Thompson, both natives of Carroll County, Ohio, where they were married and where they made their home until 1864 when they became residents of Fayette County, Iowa. Here the mother passed away January 2, 1881, and eight years later the father came to Nebraska and secured a homestead in Custer County where he spent the remainder of his days, passing away February 3, 1903.

John R. Thompson attended the district school from three to six months each year until he was eighteen years of age. He then attended Upper Iowa University at Fayette, Iowa, but never completed a full course as he was dependent upon his own resources to defray his expenses, which he did by working upon a farm and teaching school. In 1875 he entered the law department of the University of Iowa at Iowa City, graduating in 1877, under the instruction of W. G. Hammond, a most able teacher, then chancellor of the Uni- versity, and founder of the law department. He then joined his brother, W. H. Thompson, and engaged in the practice of law in their home town, Brush Creek, now Arlington, Iowa, where Thompson Brothers had opened an office the year before to earn the money

October 24, 1880, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie A. Pryse, of Iowa City. She passed away December 8, 1888. Judge Thompson was again married July 25, 1900, to Sarah A. Jones, of Iowa City, and her death occurred in Grand Island eleven years ago. Of the first marriage were born five children : Callie E., wife of Dr. A. H. Farns- worth; Grace, the wife of Julius Jones, of Grand Island; Catherine, the wife of William Pyne, mayor and editor of a newspaper at Wendell, Idaho; John P., a ranchman of Holt County, Nebraska ; and Elizabeth, the wife of Benjamin Musser, of New York.

Judge Thompson was a member of and lib- eral contributor to the First Methodist church of Grand Island, and a member of several fraternal organizations. He served the city and county. as attorney and stood for all those things that helped to make for the betterment of the community. The city is indebted to Judge Thompson for the beautiful public park known as "Pioneer Park" as it was largely through his persistent agitation that this tract was set aside as a park instead of being platted and sold for residence properties.

JOHN H. PAULSEN. - It may not be such a difficult matter to get ahead in the world when one has a host of friends and a full pocket book, but to gain position and pub- lic confidence without such help, and in a strange country and after early manhood has passed, indicates the possession of sterling per- sonal qualities. The people of Grand Island know this well in the case of John H. Paul- sen, who came here thirty seven years ago and for twenty of these years has continu- ously filled the office of keeper of the city jail.

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.

History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 89

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