History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 90

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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John H. Paulsen was born in Schleswig- Holstein, Germany, December 11, 1850, the only child of Henry and Mary Paulsen, whose

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JUDGE, J. R. THOMPSON (deceased)

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entire lives were passed in Germany. They were members of the Lutheran church. John H. attended school, then learned the cigarmaker's trade, an occupation he followed for small wages until he was thirty-two years old, when. he decided to come to the United States where industrial opportunities were greater. He reached Grand Island, Nebraska, January 6, 1882 and at once found employment at his trade. He worked as a cigarmaker until 1887. As he took advantage of every opportuity that presented itself for the exercise of industry, material success was inevitable. About 1895 Mr. Paulsen was appointed city jailor and has continued in office notwithstanding many changes in the city administration.

Mr. Paulsen married March 24, 1878, Miss Margaret Voss, who was born in Holstein, Germany, a daughter of John and Katherine (Hermenson) Voss. Her parents came to Grand Island in 1881. Mrs. Paulsen has one brother, H. J. Voss, of Grand Island; and a sister, Mrs. Lena Soll, of Baker City, Oregon. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen: Gus, sexton of the Grand Island cemetery; Anna, the wife of. Henry Sievers, now retired and living in California ; Amanda, the wife of Richard Buentz, recorder of deeds in Hall County; Alvina, the wife of Heny Paustian, of Denver, Colorado; Harry, a salesman with the Nebraska Mercantile Company ; Albert C., a soldier in France with the American Expeditionary Force, enlisting April 30, 1918; Mata, employed in the county recorder's office; and Alma, who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen are interested in Christian Science and attend the church of that belief in Grand Island. In politics Mr. Paulsen maintains party independence, and fraternally he is identified with the Low Ger- man Society.

JOHN MCLELLAN, one of Hall County's most influential citizens, is a member of the Nebraska state legislature, and is prominently identified with lumber interests in this state. He is a native of Scotland, but since the age of five years has lived in the United States, coming first to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1884.

Mr. Mclellan was born September 11, 1864, a son of James and Helen (Kelly) Mc- Lellan, natives of Scotland, who came to the United States to setle on an Illinois farm in 1869. The mother of Mr. Mclellan died there, at the age of seventy-five years. The father died while visiting a brother in Oklahoma, being then eighty-three years of age. Of their . nine children the following are living: Agnes,

the wife of Wilford Fulk, a farmer in Illinois; William, a retired farmer residing in Grand Island; Peter, a farmer in Illinois ; John; and James, who lives in Illinois. The father was a member of the Presbyterian church, was a Republican in politics, and for sixty years was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

John McLellan attended the public schools in Illinois. In 1884 he came to Hall County. Nebraska, but two years afterward accepted work on a ranch in Montana. A year later he returned to this state to enter a business college in Omaha, from which he was gradu- ated in 1888, when he returned to Montana to accept a place as bookkeeper, retaining this position for about four years. He remained in Montana until 1903, engaged in mining and merchandising, then came back to Hall County and during the following four years engaged in farming and cattle feeding. In 1908 he removed to Alda to embark in the mercantile business, and in 1910 he organized the Alda Lumber Company, of which he is president. In 1912 he organized the Abbott Lumber and Grain Company and was president of that con- cern until it went out of business. He still continues active in the lumber industry and also maintains his interest in his farm proper- ties.

Mr. Mclellan married December 18, 1892, Miss Mary Belle Juhnke, who was born at Knoxville, Tennessee, a daughter of August L. and Lamera Ellen (McCloud) Juhnke, the latter of whom was born in Tennessee and died in Hall County in July 1918. The father of Mrs. McLellan was born in Germany. He married in Tennessee and with his wife came to Hall County in 1872, having served in the Civil War as did also his father, Carl Juhnke, who took up a claim in Hall County. The parents of Mrs. McLellan came to Grand Is- land in 1878 and the father still lives here. He was one of the first conductors on the Union Pacific Railroad.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McLellan: Agnes, born near Helena, Montana, is a graduate of the Alda schools and is bookkeeper in the First National Bank : Myrtle, born at Gibbonsville, Idaho, married Russell Haldeman and they live on a farm in Hall County; John, who attended the Baptist College for two years, enlisted for Red Cross work in France but the armistice was de- clared before he was called into service; he was born in Butte, Montana; and Paul Ed- ward, who was born at Alda, Nebraska, is in school. Mr. Mclellan and family are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican and in November, 1918, he

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was elected a member of the state legislature, his majority being far beyond the votes cast for the other candidates. He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs to the A. O. U. W., in which order he has been interested for twenty-two years and at present is treasurer of the local organization. He was a member of the Supreme body in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Mr. Mclellan and family removed to Grand Island in July, 1918.

DAVID KAUFMANN, a widely known, highly respected and prosperous business man of Hall County, carries on several mercantile enterprises here, of which he is the founder. Mr. Kaufmann's success as a merchant is the result of industry coupled with good . judg- ment. He started into business with but small capital, but has always been a careful buyer and able financier. He has made courtesy and the pleasure of customers important features of his business system. Hence it has followed that within the last thirteen years he has been forced to enlarge his quarters and increase his stock to accommodate a constantly increasing trade in Grand Island, and has also established a store in Kearney.

David Kaufmann was born in Germany, October 8, 1875. He attended the Gymnasium (high school) in his native land until he was graduated at the age of fifteen years. He was employed immediately after graduation as a clerk in a dry goods store in Elberfield. From 1891 to the present he has been actively en- gaged in buying and selling goods except for one year when he served in the German army in 1903. When the opportunity presented it- self he came to America. During the eight months he remained in New York he did such work as he could without being familiar with the English language, then came from New York City to Grand Island in March 1904. During the folowing two years he was em- ployed by S. N. Wolbach, as a window trim- mer. In 1906 he started into business himself establishing his five and ten cent store, and has continued in this line of merchandising ever since. For reasons above stated Mr. Kaufmann has made a success of his under- taking and he stands well not only with the purchasing public but also with his trade com- petitors because of his honorable methods.

Mr. Kaufmann is unmarried. He is a mem- ber of the Hebrew congregation. In politics he is identified with the Republican party. Fraternally he is an Elk and belongs to the Commercial Club, of which he served as presi- dent. He has co-operated most efficiently and

earnestly with his fellow citizens in Red Cross work.

WALKER HAINLINE. - One of the flourishing business establishments at Grand Island is the Hainline Laundry, which has been developed from a very small begin- ning into one of the indispensible enterprises of the city. It represents the result of cour- age, unusual industry and perseverance, and from its start has remained the property of one family.

Walter Hainline, proprietor of the Hainline Laundry, was born in Pettis County, Missouri, January 14, 1878. His parents were Thomas M. and Mary (Bivins) Hainline, both of whom were born in Kentucky. The mother, who lives at Grand Island, was born August 3, 1854. The father, who died November 23, 1918, was aged sixty-nine years four months and twenty-one days. Thomas M, Hainline resided in Missouri after marriage being en- gaged in teaming and hauling wood and coal. Not satisfied, however, with conditions there, in March, 1888, he came with his family to Grand Island, where he found employment in a laundry but his wages were not sufficiently ample to supply the needs of a growing family. He was fortunate in that he had a sensible, cheerful, willing wife and she also went to work in the laundry, leaving the domestic affairs in the care of the children. In 1889 Mr. and Mrs. Hainline decided to start a laundry of their own. They had little capital but they had strength and industry, and it is doubtful if the fine work now turned out by the present laundry's modern patented machines, can surpass the careful hand work that first went out from the little Hainline laundry. It was in those days that Walker Hainline delivered and collected laundry on foot. In 1893 the Hainlines moved to North Platte to start a small laundry there and dur- ing the seven years they remained there were able to accumulate a small capital. In 1901 they came back to Grand Island opening a laundry in the building which is now the St. James hotel. Prosperity now smiled upon their efforts and in January, 1905, they erected their present fine modern laundry and thoroughly equipped it. Thomas M. Hainline retired from the business in 1914 and now Walter Hainline devotes his main attention to it, having a department equipped for dry clean- ing, as one of the features of the new building. Walker Hainline had fewer educational oppor- tunities in boyhood than many of his compan- ions, but he has never regretted the discipline

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that taught him industrious and frugal habits when young. He gave his parents valuable assistance and his entire business career has been identified with laundry interests. Of the family of nine children, four died in infancy, the others being: William, a barber at Grand Island for twenty years, died in 1903 and is survived by a daughter, Hazel; Clara Belle, the wife of Patrick Cornfield, died in July, 1917, leaving two children, Florence and Reuben, live at St. Paul, Minnesota; Jose- phine, the wife of Wood White, an engineer on the Union Pacific for almost forty years, has one son, Major A. White, who is a stu- dent of medicine in Stanford University ; Walker; Margaret, who was married first to William Grandlove, had two children by that marriage, Mary and Covert. Her second marriage was to C. C. Hainline, who is man- ager of the shoe department of the Miller & Paine store. They have one son, Jack.

Mr. Hainline married, June 10, 1908, Miss Anna Naylin, who was born at Auburn, Illi- nois, a daughter of Peter and Katherine (Carey) Naylin, natives of Ireland. He was a railroad man but they lived for three years on a farm near Wood River, Nebraska. Mr. Naylin is deceased but Mrs. Naylin lives at Grand Island. Mrs. Hainline is a member of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Hainline is prominent in the order of Elks, of which he is a trustee at Grand Island and is past exalted ruler of Lodge No. 604. He was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church and votes with the Democratic party as did his father.

ADOLPH W. STERNE. - Almost every line of business is creditably carried on in Grand Island. Larger cities might be proud of so complete an establishment as the cloth- ing house of Adolph W. Sterne, because it is a leader in its line in Hall County. Mr. Sterne is an experienced man in the clothing industry having been engaged in this line in this city for the past thirty-one years.

Adolph W. Sterne was born in Germany, the son of Albert and Henrietta (Strousler) Sterne, both of whom passed their lives in the Fatherland. The father was in the grain business. They had eight children, four of whom came to the United States and four others are yet in Germany. Those in America are: Benjamin, a retired resident of Chicago; Mrs. Pollock, a widow, has a home in Chicago and one at Long Beach, California ; Mrs. Sim- mons, a resident of Chicago; and Adolph W., came to the United States in 1879.

Adolph W. Sterne resided with his brother

at Clinton, Missouri, from 1879 until 1887, when he paid his first visit to Grand Island. In the following year he settled here perma- nently, becoming associated with the well. known merchant, J. A. Woolstenholm, with whom he remained until January, 1918, when he bought the business. Since then he has enlarged and expanded it until he now has the best assorted and largest stock of clothing and furnishings in Hall County.

Mr. Sterne married, in 1891, Miss Nettie Woolstenholm. They have two children: Alice L., the wife of R. H. Thurston, the owner of a ranch in Box Butte County, near Hemingford, Nebraska, and Mable Henrietta, a member of the faculty of the Nebraska State University. Miss Sterne is known over the state for her ability as an organizer. Do- mestic science and home demonstration are her particular lines of work in which she has been successful. Mr. Sterne is active in Republi- can politics, having been a delegate to the Re- publican National Convention in 1908. In local affairs he is earnest and public spirited having served as a member of the city coun- cil from 1902 to 1908 assisting in much useful civic legislation. He is a life member of the Grand Island Masonic lodge.

PURLY ALLISON DENNON, proprietor of the Grand Island Model Laundry in Grand Island, belongs to one of the pioneer families of Hall County. For many years Mr. Dennon was connected with the Union Pacific Rail- road and became widely and favorably known in several capacities.

He was born in Ross County, Ohio, Jan- uary 12, 1861, the son of George W. and Jane (Motts) Dennon. They bere born, reared and married in Ohio and from there removed to Illinois and then to Nebraska, homesteading in Hall County in 1878. The father served as a soldier in the Civil War. pasing away in Grand Island in 1915. Mr. Dennon's mother survived until 1918. They had eight children, those living being the fol- lowing: P. A .; J. W., a farmer in Cherry County, Nebraska ; T. S., who operates a dairy in Grand Island, and C. C., with the Union Pacific Railroad in Grand Island. In poli- tics the father was a Republican. During the Civil War he served in the Union Army and as a veteran belonged to the Grand Army post in Grand Island.

Mr. Dennon obtained a district school ed- ucation following which he learned the har- nessmaking trade but afterward became a rail- road man, a vocation he followed twenty-four

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years with the Union Pacific system as car inspector and seventeen years as foreman. In 1905 he embarked in the laundry business in Grand Island, organizing the Grand Island Model Laundry Company, of which he is president. The business is operated with a capital of $30,000. The company has com- modious quarters at Nos. 220-222 East Third street, where all modern laundry equipments have been installed.

Although his laundry business engaged much of his time Mr. Dennon turned his me- chanical ability to use as well. He learned the watch maker's trade and jewelry business, engaging in business in this occupation for six years, but when the United States entered the World War he responded to his country's call for men, enlisting in the navy January 28, 1918 as machinist mate first class, serving until discharged February 18, 1919.

Mr. Dennon married August 27, 1882, Miss Nellie Buzza, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Stephen Buzza. Mrs. Dennon's father came to Hall County in the early eighties to become a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Dennon have had three children, two of whom survive, namely: Nellie Myrtle, the wife of W. L. Stockinger, a machinist with the Union Pacific, and they have two children, and Purly Sumner. Mr. Dennon was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he has always been a Republican and fraternally he belongs to the Grand Island lodge of Odd Fel- lows.

AUGUST MEYER, recognized as one of Grand Island's leading merchants, is the pro- prietor of a fine jewelry store. Mr. Meyer has built up his large establishment from humble beginnings and has succeeded because of his expert knowledge gained through thorough training, and has the confidence of the community because of honorable and up- right business methods.

August Meyer was born in Switzerland, June 13, 1858, his parents being John and Verena (Gut) Meyer, who spent their entire lives in Switzerland. They had fourteen chil- dren but only three sons came to the United States: Robert, deceased; Gotlieb, with his brother in the jewelry store in Grand Island, and August. The father was a watchmaker by trade, a vocation followed by four of his sons. He and his wife belonged to the State church of Switzerland.

August Meyer gained his schooling in his native land, following which he learned his trade before coming to the United States in

1881. His brother was in the jewelry and watch business at Plattsburg, New York, where August was employed four years before coming to Grand Island. He was practically without capital and may be said to have worked his way up to his present affluence from a bench, his industry receiving a just re- ward as time passed on. Mr. Meyer still gives his main attention to his store although public affairs, to some extent claim a part of his time, his fellows citizens having elected him a mem- ber of the city council, where he served six years. In his political views he is a staunch Republican.

In 1881 Mr. Meyer married Miss Elizabeth Egg, also a native of Switzerland, and they have three sons : Robert, with his father in the store; August H., who studied electrical engi- neering in the state university at Lincoln, is general manager of the Bryan-Marsh Electric Company, Chicago, and Ernest J., who is first lieutenant of his company which has been with the American Expeditionary Force in France since January, 1918. As a member of the Na- tional Guards he also saw service on the Mexi- can border. Mr. Meyer and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.

EDWIN W. HURST, proprietor of the Hurst Sash & Door Company, has been identi- fied with the business interests of Grand Island since 1903. Through well developed methods and strict recognition of commercial integrity, he has achieved a large degree of business success.

Edwin Wardell Hurst was born at Cadillac, Wexford County, Michigan, in August, 1880. His parents were T. B. and Jennie (Lyman) Hurst, both of whom are deceased. They were natives of Pennsylvania removing from that state to Michigan in 1875 where the father was engaged in the lumber industry. They had six children of whom the following survive; Flor- ence, the widow of L. C. Reber, lives in Cali- fornia, Elizabeth, the widow of H. L. Harri- son, a resident of Portland, Oregon, and E. W, who belongs to Grand Island. The par- ents of this family were members of the Pres- byterian church. The father was a Republican.

Mr. Hurst's educational opportunities in- cluded high school advantages at Madison, Wisconsin, and one year in the university of that state. Following the close of his school days, Mr. Hurst engaged in the manufacture of sash and doors, for a time in Chicago and later in Kansas City. For eight years he was a commercial traveler over Nebraska, but in 1903 he settled permanently in Grand Island.

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In 1915 he established his manufacturing plant here and devotes the greater part of his time to the management of affairs connected with it. The Hurst Sash & Door Company does an exclusive jobbing business, the products be- ing distributed throughout Nebraska, Wyom- ing, Colorado and Montana.

In 1906 Mr. Hurst married Miss Minedith Calvin of Chicago. They have no children. Mr. Hurst is a Republican in his political views, and fraternally he belongs to Lodge No. 604, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

FRED VOSS. - An illustration of the re- wards obtainable through a life of integrity and persistent endeavor is found in the career of Fred Voss, now one of the substantial citizens of Mayfield township. When he first came to the United States, forty-seven years ago, Mr. Voss had practically nothing with which to begin life in a new country. Through the exercise of his native industry and the application of good management to his work, he has made a success of life and is now owner of a valuable farm of 280 acres, situated in section 23.

Fred Voss was born May 1, 1846, in Hol- stein, Germany, and made his home in his na- tive land until reaching the age of twenty-six years. He had the advantages of a public school education. The family finances were very modest and, there seeming to be little chance for him to acquire independence in the land of his birth, he decided to try his for- tunes in the United States. Arriving in Hall County in 1872, he found himself under neces- sity of seeking whatever honorable employ- ment he could find, being engaged at various occupations, principally farming, for others, until he had acquired sufficient funds to pur- chase a small property. This furnished the nucleus for his present splendid farm of 280 acres, which is located in section 23, Mayfield township. It is under a high state of cultiva- tion, its productiveness having been developed through scientific treatment of the soil, while the use of power farm machinery and modern methods have contributed to Mr. Voss's suc- cess. Today he is accounted one of the sub- stantial general farmers of his community and a man of intelligence and enlightened views on a number of subjects. In his political views, he takes an independent stand. Fraternal connections have held out no attractions for him. With his family, he belongs to the Luth- eran church.

The first wife of Mr. Voss, with whom he

was united in Germany, died in 1877, and left one child: Lena, who is now the wife of Otto Dickman. In 1880 Mr. Voss was united in marriage with Wibke Krone. Four chil- dren were born to this union: John, who is deceased; Max, is married and a farmer of Mayfield township; Chris, in the United States mail service, at Omaha; and Harry Herman, who is engaged in general farming in associa- tion with his father.

RAYMOND D. KINGSBURY. - There are few lines of business more essential to the comfort and health of a community than that carried on under the name of plumbing, and Grand Island is fortunate in this direction. Few cities of its size have better plumbing or heating service than is supplied by the Grand Island Plumbing Company, of which Raymond D. Kingsbury is president. He was born in Fillmore County, Nebraska, November 24, 1876. His father, Castello Kingsbury, was a native of Illinois, living there until after the close of the Civil War, when he removed with his family to Nebraska to settle in Fillmore County: He now lives retired in Portland, Oregon. He served three years in the Union army as a member of the Sixty-fourth Illinois volunteer infantry, being wounded at the battle of Shiloh, this injury making hospital treat- ment necessary. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, is a Republican in his political views, and is a member of the American Order of United Workmen. He married in Illinois, Mary Mott who was born in that state and died in Nebraska in 1910. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had four children, three of whom are living, namely ; Raymond D., presi- dent of the Grand Island Plumbing Company ; Mildred, the wife of Coy Burnett, an attorney in practice at Portland, Oregon. and Maud, who resides in Portland where she is a profes- sional nurse.

R. D. Kingsbury completed his educational training in the state university at Lincoln, from which he was graduated in 1901, after which he was connected for several years with the Burlington Railroad in the capacity of civil engineer. In 1904 he came to Grand Island with the intention of embarking in business and shortly afterward bought his uncle's plumbing establishment. The business was in- corporated with a capital of $11,000, under the name of the Grand Island Plumbing Com- pany, with Mr. Kingsbury as president, and D. O. Beckmann secretary and treasurer. Since incorporation the scope of the businesse

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 90

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