History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 91

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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has been yet further extended, so that today the concern is one of Grand Island's important enterprises. Although Mr. Kingsbury owns a ranch situated in Wyoming, he devotes the most of his personal attention to his Grand Island interests.

Mr. Kingsbury married, in 1904, Miss Ruby D'Ment, who was born in Iowa. They have two children : Carol and Carita, both of whom are attending school. In political sentiment Mr. Kingsbury has always been a Republican. He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs to the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Kingsbury is a liberal contributor to benevolent objects and with his family belongs to the Methodist Epis- copal church.

HERMAN NELSON, the head of the Nel- son Lumber & Supply Company of Grand Is- land, is recognized as one of Grand Island's most enterprising business men. He came here practically without capital and has built up a fine business entirely through his own industry, and the success which has attended his efforts is well merited.

Herman Nelson was born in Denmark, January 23, 1880, the fifth in a family of six children born to his parents, Lars and Cas- para Nelson. His father died on a little farm in Denmark, on which his mother yet lives. They had the following children: Jens P., who has resided in Nebraska for thirty-three years, lives on a farm north of York; Lars and Marie, twins, the former of whom was accidentally drowned fourteen years ago, and the latter who is the wife of T. Norgard of Denmark; Edward, who resides with his mother in the old country ; Herman, who came to Grand Island in 1906; and Casper, who is engaged in the grocery business, also remains in Denmark. The father of this family was a man of importance in his district, having held the political office of inspector of one and one-quarter miles of coast along the North Sea, for a quarter of a century.

As a boy Herman Nelson assisted in work- ing the home farm and also was an aid to his father in watching and guarding the coast. He had common school advantages and then attended the high schol from 1897 until 1898, at the same time working as a carpenter's ap- prentice, thereby learning a trade that he has found exceedingly useful. In 1902 Mr. Nelson came to the United States, soon finding work on the Great Northern Railroad, being em- ployed prior to coming to Grand Island, in bridge building at Clancy, Montana. After reaching this city in 1906 he went to work for

Geer and Harrison where he remained one and a half years, then worked one year for Kruse Brothers, following this employment he began a contracting business of his own. In 1913 he organized the Nelson Lumber & Supply Com- pany, which deals in lumber, coal and planing mill products. Their trade territory covers the state of Nebraska.

Mr. Nelson married in Denmark Miss Eliza Anderson, also a native of that country. They have three children, Lars, Sarah, and Norman. Mr. Nelson and his family belong to the Luth- eran church. He votes with the Democratic party and is a member of the school board. Fraternally his associations are with the Dan- ish Brotherhood and the M. B. A.

JOHN H. TRENT, vice president of the Nelson Lumber & Supply Company of Grand Island, has been a resident of Nebraska since he was eighteen years old, his parents being among the pioneers of 1882 in Hall County. The Trent name has been an honorable and respected one in this section ever since, al- though its founders here have passed away.

John H. Trent was born in Menard County, Illinois, February 24, 1864. His parents were Williamson and Lydia A. (Jones) Trent, both of whom were born in Menard County, where the father was a substantial farmer for many years. Mr. Trent and his father were both born in the town of Old Salem, the home of Abraham Lincoln, the father was a personal friend and associate of Mr. Lincoln in early days. The west called Williamson Trent, how- ever, and in 1882 he came to Hall County, Nebraska, and here the rest of his life was spent. In addition to farming he worked at bricklaying. He was a Democrat in politics. Both he and wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. A family of six children were born to Williamson and Lydia Trent. Of this family four are living: Alice, the wife of O. H. Ereyly, a retired farmer living at Hershey, Nebraska ; John H., a representative business man of Grand Island; Clarence, who carries on a confectionery business at Hershey, Nebraska; and Ned, who conducts the New York Shining Parlor at Wichita Falls, Texas.

John H. Trent attended the public schools in Illinois and after coming to Nebraska spent one year in the high school at Doniphan. His earlier years were passed on a farm. After this he learned the blacksmith trade following which he came to Grand Island in 1895. He continued to work at this occupation until 1913- a period of twenty years. In that year he be- came interested in the organization of the Nel-

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son Lumber and Supply Company, becoming vice president of the concern, which has proved a very successful business enterprise. It has grown to large proportions under able manage- ment, having formerly had lumber interests at Phillips and at present owns a concern at Cairo. Mr. Trent began life on his own ac- count with but little capital, but has made steady progress and now owns, in addition to the interests above indicated, five quarter- sections of land in western Nebraska, valuable tracts in Colorado, and lands in Hall County.

Mr. Trent married, in 1887, Miss Laura Fairbank, who was born in Pennsylvania. They have no children. Politically he has al- ways been affiliated with the Democratic party.

WILLIAM JOHNSON, well known and highly respected in Hall County, has lived within its confines since 1887. He is an expert blacksmith having worked continuously at his trade in Grand Island. By his industry he has not only set a commendable example, but also he has accumulated a comfortable fortune.

William Johnson was born in Denmark, Jan- uary 23, 1860. His parents were Hans and Kittie Johnson, who passed their lives in Den- mark. They were members of the Lutheran church. Of their five children, William was the only one to come to the United States. He attended school in his native land but as his father earned only the wages of a general laborer he had few advantages and from early boyhood cherished the hope of sometime com- ing to America. His opportunity came in 1881. When he reached the United States, he settled at Lansing, Michigan, where he found work in a blacksmith shop. Following this occu- pation he enlisted in the United States army following the vocation of a soldier for the next five years during the Indian troubles in Mon- tana, California and old Mexico.

When released from the army, in 1887, Mr. Johnson came to Grand Island, to work as a blacksmith for C. E. Lykke, with whom he remained for eighteen years and then became associated with John H. Trent. Later he pur- chased a half interest in the business that he had assisted to establish.

Mr. Johnson married in 1886, Miss Katie Benson, who was born in Tennessee and died at Grand Island, June 5, 1915. Five children were born to them as follows: Robert, em- ployed in a printing office at Kansas City; Lloyd, with the American army in France, having served as a blacksmith in an engineer corps for the past eighteen months; Archer, a machinist ; Marie, the wife of James Byard,

an aviator connected with the Great Lakes training station, and Hazel, who resides with her father. Mr. Johnson and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church. There are many reasons why Mr. Johnson should take a deep interest in public affairs, and dur- ing the years of strife now happily ended, he was active in helpful ways wherever he found opportunity. In politics he is a Democrat.

LUDWIG ALBERT ZUEHLKE, the effi- cient and enterprising manager of the Hord Grain and Coal Company of Grand Island, has had a considerable amount of experience in other business lines, where he demonstrated his capacity to handle large interests. He was born in Germany, September 26, 1874.

The parents of Mr. Zuehlke were Ludwig and Augusta (Henkle) Zuehlke, natives of Gemany who emigrated to the United States, reaching Hall County, May 10, 1883. The father bought land from the railroad com- pany on which the family resided for a number of years before the father retired from active life and moved to Grand Island. Here both father and mother died. Of their twelve chil- dren eleven are living, two of whom are in South Dakota, the other nine being distributed in Hall, Merrick and Holt counties, Nebraska. The parents were members of the Lutheran church.

Ludwig Albert Zuehlke was reared on his father's farm and attended school in a little white building situated seven miles north of Grand Island. For eight years after finish- ing his education he followed farming in Howard County, then homesteaded in the Rosebud reservation, in Boyd County, being one of the first white settlers to venture into that section at a time when Indians were to be seen every day. Three years later after selling his homestead he came to Grand Is- land, locating here in 1906, after which for some years he was engaged in a grocery busi- ness. He then took charge of the Hord Grain & Coal Company, of which he has since been manager.

Mr. Zuehlke married, October 1, 1892, Miss Johanna Barth, who was born in Merrick County, Nebraska. Her parents came to Ne- braska in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Zuehlke have four children : Martha, Minnie, Harry and Arthur, all of whom live at home. The entire family belongs to the Trinity Lutheran church. situated on East Second street, Grand Island. Mr. Zuehlke is considered a valuable citizen, one who is strong in his support of law and order and liberal in benevolent movements.

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He has never been ambitious; for political honors but is loyal in his support of his Re- publican friends.

HENRY HARRY, well and familiarly known as Colonel Harry, is a virile and pro- gressive young man who has proved himself strong and resourceful in facing the responsi- bilities and problems that he has encountered in the developing of a well-established reputa- tion as one of the reliable and popular business men of Hall County. He has been in the most significant sense the artificer of his own success. His advancement has been won through earnest and well ordered endeavors, the while he has at all times commanded in- violable place in popular confidence and good will. Colonel Harry is one of the versatile, successful and popular exponents of the voca- tion of auctioneer, and in this field his able services are much in demand throughout this section of the state. His residence and busi- ness headquarters are maintained in Grand Island.

Henry Harry was born in the fine old pro- vince of Westphalia, Germany; the date of his nativity was August 18, 1880. He is a son of Henry and Caroline (Kurling) Harry, who were born and reared in that same prov- ince but emigrated to the United States in 1884. The death of Mrs. Harry occurred within that year. She was born in' 1856. Henry Harry, Sr., who now resides near Chapman, Merrick County, has been actively engaged in farm enterprises since 1900. He is one of the substantial and valued citizens of that locality. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, of which his wife likewise was a devout communicant. Of their two children Henry, Jr., of this review, is the elder, and the younger, Fred, in engaged in farming, at Chapman.

Henry Harry, Jr., was about four years old when his parents came from Germany to America and established their home in Howard County, Nebraska. The father later removed to Merrick County, where he now resides. In the public school of St. Libory, Howard County, Henry Harry, Jr., acquired his early educational discipline, being reared to the sturdy service involved in farm life. Thus it naturally came about that his initial activities of independent order were those of a farm worker, in which connection he found em- ployment by the month, after having run away from home for the purpose of thus proving his self-reliance and independent spirit.

Finally he was enabled to engage in a farm enterprise for himself. Energy and good judgment brought him success during the period of years that he was farming an entire section of land, in Hamilton County.

Reverting to the circumstances of the child- hood of Colonel Harry, it is to be noted that his parents were in such limited financial con- dition that when they set forth for the United States they had not sufficient money to justify them in bringing their two little sons, who were cared for by a friend of the family until the father could make provision for their coming two or three years later. When about eighteen years of age Colonel Harry found employment on the farm of a German in Hamilton County. His employer was more given to indulgence in ardent spirits than to fair and reasonable treatment of his employes, and thus it came about that after working three days, at a wage of fifty cents a day, young Harry was discharged. With his little sum of three dollars, earned by hard work, he set forth to find another job. At Aurora he rented a room for twenty-five cents and paid an equal amount for his breakfast. To con- serve his little sum of money, he went without dinner and supper that day. He went in turn . to every farmer who hitched his team in the village and asked for work. Finally one man informed the youth that he had a brother who needed a man, and though Harry was only a boy he found employment with this brother, with whom he remained as long as the latter required a man for such farm service. For a year thereafter he was employed by a farmer named Schuster, and from his wages for that year he spent only seven and one-half dollars - the greater part for shoes and overalls and the remainder in the remarkable profligacy implied in his paying fifty cents for admittance to the Ringling Brothers circus, with five cents for the redoubtable circus lemonade and five cents for sausage, - which constituted his dinner on that momentous occasion. With his savings Mr. Harry purchased a corn sheller, but in its operation he met with negative finan- cial success. Finally he went to Giltner, Hamilton County, where he engaged in the livery business, besides opening a dance hall in his livery barn. Through this dual enterprise he made several hundred dollars, and with this capital he rented 640 acres of land. In his vigorous activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower on this land he was succesful, and while he was thus engaged he conducted his first sale in the capacity of auctioneer. So successful was he in this sale that there came insistent demand for his services as an auction-

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eer, and eventually he found it expedient to adopt auctioneering as his vocation. He has become one of the best known and most suc- cessful auctioneers in this part of the state and his genial personality, coupled with his fair and honorable methods, have not only gained to him a wide circle of friends but have in- ured also to his splendid success in his chosen field of service. Of the scope and importance of his "professional" business an idea is con- veyed when it is stated that in the winter of 1917-1918 Colonel Harry conducted two hun- dred and thirty-eight auction sales, from which he recieved in individual fees as high as two hundred and thirty dollars. His reputation as an auctioneer has far transcended mere local limitations, which is shown by the fact that he has been called upon to conduct sales not only in diverse sections of Nebraska, but also in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and at St. Joseph, Missouri. Within the period of independent career Colonel Harry has owned a number of good farm properties in Nebraska. In Hall County he now owns a well improved and valuable landed estate of three hundred and sixty acres, for which he paid $14,000. He began life without money or influential friends, but by his own energy, initiative and well ordered endeavors he has achieved large and worthy success, together with unqualified popular esteem.

That a man who has thus marked the passing years with sucessful personal activities should also have full appreciation of civic duties and responsibilities, is a foregone conclusion. Thus Colonel Harry is always ready to lend his co- operation in the futherance of measures pro- jected for the general good of the community, and he has also been especially loyal and liberal in the support of the various patriotic war agencies that have marked the nation's par- ticipation in the great world war. He has had no desire for political activity or public office, but gives staunch allegiance to the Democratic party. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Travelers' Protective Association. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. As an auctioneer Colonel Harry is retained continuously as salesman for the Grand Island Horse & Mule Company, at an annual salary of $5,000. From his general ser- vices as an auctioneer he also recieves substan- tial returns. The Colonel is a worker, a thinker and a successful business man, and his many friends fully realize that he is accounting well for himself and to the world in all of the re- lations of life.

The 17th of October, 1906, recorded the marriage of Colonel Harry to Miss Bertha Stratmann, who was born and reared at Grand Island, her father, Frederick Stratmann, hav- ing been for a number of years engaged in farm enterprise in Hall County and having thereafter established himself in the agricul- tural-implement business in Grand Island. Colonel and Mrs. Harry have two winsome daughters, Dorothy and Virginia, both of whom are now attending the public schools of Grand Island,

WILLIAM F. KREHMKE, a representa- tive citizen of Hall County, and a substantial business man of Grand Island, has been in the meat business here for almost twenty years. He is held in high regard in business, and en- joys equal confidence in political circles.

William F. Krehmke was born at Grand Island, Nebraska, September 28, 1881. His parents were William and Caroline (Krehm- ke) Krehmke, both of whom are deceased. They came to the United States from Holstein, Germany, in 1869, being pioneer settlers at Grand Island, where the father engaged in a manufacturing business. He became a citizen and identfied himself with the Republican party. There were five children in the Krehmke family all of whom were sent to school and reared in the faith of the Lutheran church. Of these William was the fourth in order of birth, the others were: Christ, a railroad man at Grand Island; Freda, the wife of Herny Horstman, a painter at Grand Is- land; August, living in Sparta, Nevada, has a large transfer business; and Minnie, the wife of John Rathman, a farmer in Kimball County, Nebraska.

William F. Krehmke attended the Grand Island public schools and afterward worked on a farm in Hall County for seven years, and for two years rode range in Kansas. He then returned to Grand Island to embark in his present business, his first shop being located on Second Street. In 1906 he sold that shop and in 1912 he moved to the commodious quarters he now occupies on North Pine street where he carries a heavy stock ; making a specialty of fine meats.

Mr. Krehmke married, October 4, 1911, in Grand Island, Miss Emma Conow, who was born in this city. They have two children; a six year old daughter, Evelyn, and a son, Will. iam Lyle, who is about one year old. Mr. and Mrs. Krehmke are members of the English Lutheran church. He is identified with both Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities

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having held the office of vice-grand in the latter. He has long been very active in Re- publican political circles; serving for some years as a member of the city council, first by appointment and later by election. Per- sonally he is very popular, a fact Hall County demonstrated when he was the Republican candidate for the state senate, in 1916, by giv- ing him a remarkable vote. The district is normally Democratic but he carried his county by over one thousand votes being defeated by only three hundred votes. He is of genial temperament, is social in his instincts, and is one of the hearty supporters of the old German athletic societies of the city.

WILLIAM MCLELLAN, who has spent many busy years in Hall County, now lives re- tired in Grand Island, where he is highly es- teemed. He owns a large amount of property in the county. It is his privilege to direct the development and improvement of 1,560 acres of fine land. Mr. Mclellan is a member of the board of directors of the Commercial State Bank.

William McLellan was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, January 4, 1860, a son of James and Helen (Kelly) Mclellan, who were born, reared and married in Scotland. In 1866 James McLellan came to the United States locating in Illinois but early in the following year returned to Scotland to live there until 1869, when he came back to Illinois where he was occupied as a farmer and miner. In 1870 he was joined by his wife and six children. The mother died in Logan County, Illinois, while the father passed away in Krebs, Oklahoma. They had nine children of whom the following survive: Agnes, the wife of Wilfred Fulk, a retired farmer living in Lincoln, Illinois ; Wil- liam, who lives retired in Grand Island, Ne- braska; Peter, living on a farm in Illinois; John, a resident of Hall County ; and James, a farmer in Illinois. The parents of the family were members of the Presbyterian church.

William McLellan attended school in Scot- land and later in Logan County, Illinois. Prior to coming to Nebraska he worked by the month on a farm but after reaching Hall County in September, 1883, entered the employ of William Gilchrist, being employed on his farm through that fall and the following win- ter, when he rented a tract of land from Mr. Gilchrist which he operated for five years, when he bought an eighty acre farm of his own After that, Mr. Mclellan devoted himself in- dustriously to farming and stock raising, and as his methods met with success he gradually

acquired additional land until in the course of years he has become a large landed proprietor. This has not come abont without persistent industry and the exercise of business acumen of a high order. Others might not do so well in the space of thirty-six years, but Mr. Mc- Lellan has proved that it can be done, having honestly advanced from the status of a poor farm laborer, to that of an affluent citizen whose name is an asset to any financial institu- tion with which he may be associated.

Mr. Mclellan married in February, 1885, Miss Alice Juhnke, a native of Tennessee, a daughter of Carl Juhnke, who was born in Germany. He settled in Hall County in 1873 and died here. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McLellan, of whom the fol- lowing are living: James, resides on a farm two miles west of Grand Island; Rebecca, the wife of Henry Thomas, a farmer west of Grand Island; Albert, who resides on the home farm, married Mary Kelly; Ada, the wife of Walter Layman, a farmer near Alliance, Ne- braska; William, with the American Expedi- tionary Force in France ; and Jennette, a stu- dent in the Grand Island high school. Mrs. Mc- Lellan died March 9, 1904. In politics Mr. McLellan is a Republican. He belonges to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and has taken the advanced degrees in Masonry and is a Shriner.

THOMAS H. FRITTS. - Long before the world had any conception of the mighty uses to which electricity might sometime be applied, there were scientific investigators who gave close study to everything pertaining to this force as then known, and thereby made the discoveries that have been so revolutionary in almost every line of activity. It was about a quarter of a century ago that Thomas H. Fritts, well known in Grand Island, became interested in the electrical business, which in- terest has continued to the present day. He is vice-president of the Central Power Com- pany of Grand Island. Thomas H. Fritts was born in Lyons, Burt County, Nebraska, No- vember 3, 1872, a son of Gideon and Martha A. (Cockrell) Fritts. They were born and married in Ohio, moving from there to Burt County, Nebraska, in the early sixties. The father acquired land on which he lived until his death in 1912, which occurred at the age of eighty-four years. The mother still lives on the old home place. Of their seven children the following survive: William J., who lives on the old homestead in Burt County ; Mary, the wife of F. O. Eckleen, a retired citizen of

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 91

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