History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 96

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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William D. Nietfeld was born at St. Paul, Nebraska, August 5, 1891, the second in a family of five children born to his parents, Henry and Louise (Kruger) Nietfeld, who were natives of Germany. When they came from the old country in 1883 they settled at St. Paul, Nebraska, where for thirty years the father was in the retail liquor business. In 1906 he removed to Grand Island to engage in the wholesale trade here until Nebraska passed the no license law, when he turned his attention to real estate. In politics he is a Democrat and fraternally is a member of the Elks and the Eagles. He is a member and has always been a liberal supporter of the Lutheran church. Besides William D., his children are: Laura, the wife of W. A. Godfrey, a soldier in the American Expedi- tionary Force now in Europe; Otto, a second lieutenant in the training camp at Kearney,

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California, plans to adopt a military life; Elsie resides at home, and Lillian is a student in the high school.

After completing the high school course in 1909, Mr. Nietfeld entered the jewelry store of Max Egge, as clerk and apprentice in Grand Island. In 1910 he completed a course in the Bradley Horological school, Peoria, Illinois, after which he went to Elgin, Illinois, where he took a practical watchmaking course. Upon his return to Grand Island, in partner- ship with Harry A. Carey, he bought the old established jewelry store of Max Egge. The business prospects of the firm are very bright. Mr. Nietfeld is at present exalted ruler of the local order of Elks and belongs also to the Eagles, the Knights of Pythias, and the Masonic order.

On January 31, 1917, Mr. Nietfeld was united in marriage with Miss Thelma Larri- son, who was born at Lincoln, Illinois. They have a daughter, Harriet Orcutt, bom Jan- uary 27th, 1919. They are members of the Episcopal church.

HERMAN L. STRATMAN, who con- ducted a wagon-making shop and dealt in agricultural implements at South Wheeler Avenue, Grand Island, was one of the city's well known, reliable business men. Stead- fast and practical, Mr. Stratman was a type of the useful everyday citizen and in the quiet pursuit of his business set an example of industry that many of the younger generation might profitably follow.

Herman Leopold Stratman was born at Grand Island, October 18, 1878. His parents were Henry and Charlotte (Spethman) Strat- man, the former of whom was born in Ger- many in 1850. The latter was born at Winter- set, Iowa, and they were married in Grand Island and she still lives here. There is but one surviving member of their family of six children; Malvina, who lives with her mother. Henry Stratman came to Grand Island in 1871, a first class mechanic and a welcome addition to the town's industrial class. Like many other young men before and since, he was entirely dependent on his mechanical skill for maintenance. He set right to work and opened a wagon and blacksmith shop. He could do and do well just the kind of work most needed in the growing town at that time and he prospered and in the course of years went also into the implement business. He bacame a man of ample means and entirely through his own efforts. In later life he gave his political support to the independent wing

of the Democratic party. He had been con- firmed in the Lutheran church and always re- membered his obligations. In his death, in 1912, Grand Island lost an honest and useful citizen.

Herman L. Stratman obtained his education in the Grand Island public schools, after which he learned the wagon-making trade under his father and in the course of time succeeded his father in business. He never entertained any political ambitions but always was loyal to the Democratic party. He held the best interests of Grand Island of much importance and was ever found ready to join with others in furthering local movements that would in his opinion, be beneficial. He was a member of the order of Elks and also of the Eagles and was an ex-vice president of the latter organ- ization. He died March 10th, 1919, having passed an honorable upright life, well deserv- ing the confidence and trust of his business associates.

CHARLES C. PERRY .- In its display of fine musical taste, in combination with other cultural elements, Grand Island takes a lead- ing place among the large centers of Nebraska. For years this has been the home of unexcelled musicians, as the oldest music house in Hall County is located at Grand Island. The tradey in musical instruments is large and varient! Grand Island handling the most of this bad. iness west of Lincoln and Omaha. A very necessary adjunct of music establishments is the piano tuner. It requires exceptional mus- ical gifts, native ability and technical train- ing that enables a man to discover and. remedy in an instrument the inharmonious chords that need to be attuned. Probably the best qualified piano tuner in Grand Island is Charles. C. Perry, who has been identified with the Becker Music Company since 1904.

Charles C. Perry was born in McDonough County, Illinois, November 4, 1877, the eldest of three children born to his parents, F. M. and Sue Perry. Their other children are: Nellie, a trained nurse, and Cora, a draughts- man in a mechanical engineer's office. The parents are residents of Peoria, Illinois, in which state they were born. The father is in the insurance business. He is a Republican in politics. Both parents are members of the Universalist church.

In boyhood Mr. Perry attended the public schools and in 1898 was graduated from the Avon High school. His natural inclination even then was toward music and while work- ing as a clerk in a clothing store for a year,

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he took lessons in piano tuning from a pri- vate teacher. Later he had the best of train- ing in the Boston Conservatory of Music. In 1904 Mr. Perry came to Grand Island and has followed his profession here ever since, his headquarters being with the Becker Music Company. He has never been particularly active in politics but has always cast a Re- publican vote. For many years he has been a Mason and belongs, also, to the Elks.

HENRY OLLIVER CONAWAY, M. D., perhaps the Nestor of the medical profession in Grand Island, has been engaged in medical practice for more than forty years. During a part of this time he has been a member of the faculty of Drake University. In this long period of professional usefulness, he has seen much progress in medical science, although its basic principles must remain the same. It has always been his fervent desire to benefit humanity to the extent of his ability through knowledge and skill.

Dr. Conaway was born in Harrison County, Ohio, January 27, 1848. He is a member of an old Ohio family that had its roots in Ire- land. His grandfather was Michael Conaway, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. The parents of Dr. Conaway were Aaron and Dorcas (Busby) Conaway, who spent their lives in Ohio. The former was born in Harri- son County in 1807 and died March 11, 1896. They were the parents of fourteen children, Dr. Conaway of Grand Island being the eleventh in order of birth. He and his brother, Dr. J. B. Conaway, a retired physician, are the only members of the family residing in. Nebraska. Aaron Conaway was a lawyer in early life but later acquired land and led an agricultural life. He was prominent politic- ally in Harrison County, Ohio, and for forty- five years served in the office of justice of the peace without ever having one of his deci- sions reversed by a higher court. Four of his sons served in the Civil War: John B., Moses, Michael and Henry Olliver. Moses was a member of the One Hundred Twenty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, being killed at Fisher's Hill, Virginia, September 22, 1863. Rev. Charles Conaway a cousin of Aaron Conaway, was one of the earliest circuit-riders sent out to preach by a Methodist conference in the state of Ohio. Alpheus B. Conaway is a physician at Marshalltown, Iowa, was at one time a candidate for governor of his state, also serving in the state senate from Mahaska County two terms.

Henry O. Conaway spent his boyhood years

in school at Oakdale, Ohio, but obtained his medical education in the Cincinnati Eclectic College, Cincinnati, Ohio, from which institu- tion he was graduated in 1875. After a prac- tice of eighteen months at Alexandria, Ohio, he went to Deep River, Iowa, and five years later removed to Des Moines, which practically was his home and field of work for twenty years. During eight years of this period Dr. Conaway was professor of anatomy in Drake University. Afterward he came to Nebraska and in 1909 he bought a drug store at Rey- nolds, which he conducted for a time; then sold it and removed to Phillips in Hamilton County. Five years later he came from there to Grand Island. Dr. Conaway carries on a general practice but makes something of a specialty of diseases of the eye and nose.

On May 16, 1873, Dr. Conaway married Miss Fannie Hoover, who was born at Park- ersburg, Virginia, and died in 1908. Three of their four children survive: Clement Aaron, a commercial traveler, lives at Des Moines, Iowa; Josie, the wife of Jesse Rogers, manager of a tea store in Des Moines, and George, a mechanical engineer, is employed on United States government work in California. Mrs. Conaway was a graduate of the medical department of Drake University. On May 16. 1910, Dr. Conaway was married a second time to Miss Nellie Willoughby, who was born in Iroquois County, Illinois, a daughter of Win- field S. and Catherine (Crow) Willoughby. The father of Mrs. Conaway was a soldier in the Civil War. The doctor and Mrs. Conaway have one son, Clifton Laclede, who was born May 27, 1911. Mrs. Conaway is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith the doctor was reared. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and belongs to the Consistory at Des Moines. He is also a Shriner. In his political sentiments he is in accord with the Republican party. He belongs to the Iowa State Medical Association, of which he once was president. and to the National Medical Association.

JAMES B. LESHER. - Few men are better known in Hall County than James B. Lesher, who conducts a real estate business at Grand Island. He was one of the pioneers who reached Nebraska in the spring of 1887 and since that time has been connected with the development of this section of the state. He owns large bodies of land here and in other parts of the country, having been a very wise investor.

James B. Lesher comes of old Pennsylvania stock. He was born in Northumberland Digitized by Google

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County, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1853, the son of Daniel and Sarah J. (Van Kirk) Lesher; his grandfathers were George Lesher and Joseph Van Kirk, all of whom were born and spent there lives in Pennsylvania. The father of Mr. Lesher was born in Northumberland County in 1832, married and died there August 1, 1897. Of his thirteen children James B was the fifth in order of birth, six of the family survive. The father was a Jacksonian Democrat, as honest in his political opinions as he was steadfast in the Baptist faith.

During boyhood James B. Lesher attended the country schools. He grew up on his father's farm and followed a farmer's life in Northumberland County until he decided to venture his fortunes in the west and came to Nebraska. He was not without capital but did not immediately invest in land, his good judgment cautioning him to await develop- ments for a time. He reached Hall County, March 1, 1887, and for two years afterward engaged in farming on rented land before he began purchasing for himself. Mr. Lesher now owns about 500 acres in Hall County and while accumulating it was for years a heavy feeder and shipper of cattle and hogs. He retired from his farm activities in 1906 and since then has devoted himself to handling real estate. Additionally he has a valuable property of 2,000 acres of timber land in Washington and is numbered among the capi- talists of Hall County.

In 1879 James B. Lesher married Miss Hattie Irene Reed, who was born in Penn- sylvania, the daughter of Farnsworth and Rosanna (Miller) Reed, the former of whom was a farmer. They both died in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Lesher have three children : Gertrude, a trained nurse, resides at home ; Rosa, the wife of Elias F. Star, a teacher in the University at Lincoln ; and Carl A., at home after completing almost two years of military service. He was one of the first in Hall County to volunteer for over sea service as an aviator, and during a part of the time he was stationed in Paris, France.

Mr. Lesher is a Democrat in his political opinions but is inclined to be independent to some extent. He has frequently served in township offices. For some years he has been a trustee of the Baptist College at Grand Is- land, and has been chairman of the executive board. His only fraternal connection is with lodge No. 604 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a director of the Y. M. C. A. in Grand Island, a stockholder and at one time a director of the Commercial State Bank in this city.

HARRY H. LONG, who is prominent in labor circles and officially connected with many important industrial ,organizations, has been a resident of Grand Island for twelve years. He was born April 19, 1876, in Madison County, Iowa. His parents were John H. and Elizabeth (Freestone) Long, the former of whom was born in Ohio in 1814 and died at Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1913. He was a Re- publican in politics and for many years was a justice of the peace. During his active years he was a farmer in Iowa but had been retired for a long period prior to 1906, when he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. The mother of Harry H.Long was born in Indiana in 1846, was married at Perry, Iowa, and died in Ne- baska in 1908. Of the family of five children, the following are living: Harry H., who resides at Grand Island: David A., who is a farmer near St. Joseph, Missouri and Mrs. Rose Meyers, a widow, who lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Harry H. Long attended the high school at Aurora, Nebraska, and the Peru Normal school. He learned the trade of decorator, following this vocation at Colorado Springs, for seven years. Subsequently for eleven months he was employed at Kansas City in a government shipping office, following which he came to Grand Island. Here Mr. Long re- sumed work at his trade, which is a trying one on the eyes, and on account of a devlop- ing weakness, he was forced to abandon it in 1917. Since then he has devoted all of his time to the interests of labor organizations, which very generally concede his unusual busi- ness ability. He is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and is an organizer for the same; is the secretary of the Central Labor Union, and is business agent for all labor unions in Hall County. He belongs also to the L. O. O. M.

In 1902 Mr. Long was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Wickless, who was born in Iowa. They had one daughter, Marie, who died when aged eight years. Mrs. Long is a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Long maintains his office in the Glover build- ing at the corner of Third and Wheeler streets.

LUTHER MARTIN CARLSON, pro- prietor of the Carlson Mattress Works, in Grand Island, has demonstrated in building up this fine business, the value of industry and carefully directed effort. Mr. Carlson began life for himself with but little assistance, but the extent of his present enterprise, built upe

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within the space of seven years, indicates that that fact was no handicap.

Luther Martin Carlson was born in Knox County, Illinois, in 1871, the eldest of four children born to Charles A. and Hannah (An- derson) Carlson. Both were born in Sweden, emigrating from the old country, they came when young to Illinois and were married there. In 1886 they removed to Kansas where Charles A. Carlson homesteaded, taking up a tree claim which he owned until the time of his death which occured in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1898, the same year in which his wife passed away. In early years he was a Republican but later became identified with the Farmer's Al- liance party. Both he and wife belonged to the Lutheran church. Their surviving children aee: Luther M., who lives at Grand Island; Alice, the wife of Theodore Jansen, of Salina, Kansas, and Walter at the head of the me- chanical engineering school of the State Agri- cultural College in Manhattan, Kansas.

Luther M. Carlson obtained only a district school education, following which he worked on a farm and taught school until 1903 when he became connected with a mattress manufactur- ing firm, first as an office man and later as rep- resentative on the road. In 1912 he came to Grand Island and established himself in the mattress manufacturing business and now has an extensive plant at No. 1024 West. North Front street. He manufactures and remakes all grades of mattresses, makes pillows, feather beds, renovates feathers, makes auto- mobile tops and does automobile top repairing. While his trade territory is mainly in Nebraska, he also ships to Colorado and the Dakotas. His reputation for promptness in the matter of con- tracts, and the excellence of his products is wide spread.

In 1910 Mr. Carlson married Miss Lorraine Gurney, who was born and educated in Iowa. They have one daughter, Mary Louise, a little maid of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson attend the Methodist church and Mrs. Carlson is actively interested in its many benevolent movements. In politics Mr. Carlson is a Democrat and an advocate of prohibition. He is not only a wide awake business man but a responsible and public-spirited citizen, and he is so recognized by his fellow citizens. He be- longs to the United Commercial Travelers Association and also the Knights and Ladies of Security.

ROBERT TAYLOR is the owner of the largest tract of land in Hall County held by any individual, and his property known as

"Taylor Ranch" is the largest concern of its kind in this part of the county.

Robert Taylor was born near Pilmuir, Ber- wickshire, Scotland, December 9, 1847, a son of David and Eliza (Littster) Taylor, who spent their entire lives in the land of hills and heather. The subject of this record was reared in his native land and was a lad of but eighteen when he came to the United States. He spent a short time at the home of his maternal grandparents in Indiana Coun Pennsylvania, but it was his desire to see mor. of the country. There were no transconti- nental railroads at that time, so by way of ! famous Nicarauguan Route across the Isth- mus he went to California, arriving at San Franciso in April 1867. His worldly capital consisted of what he carried in a belt. He found employment shearing sheep and the money acquired in this way was the first h earned in the United States. In the early sev- enties he purchased six hundred ewes and en- gaged in the sheep business wholly on bor- rowed capital, paying eighteen per cent interest but was so successful that he was out of debt three years. Ten years later he took the trail and with his herd went to Wyoming where he was extensively engaged in sheep raising for many years. It was about 1890 that he be- came interested in Hall County land and is today the owner of more that nine thousand acres devoted to the sheep and cattle industry. He has the finest herd of Angus cattle in tue state of Nebraska. The ranch is equipped with several hundred thousand dollars spent in improvements.

In 1896 Mr. Tayor was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Elizabeth Littlefair, who was born in England, she became the mother of four children : Mary Elizabeth, Robert Bruce. Dorothy Agnes and Grace. Mrs. Taylor pass- ed away in Hall County and for a second wife Mr. Taylor chose Miss Annie Dover Little- fair, a native of England and a sister of the former wife.

Mr. Taylor is a member of the Episcopa! church and in politics is a Republican. Whik residing in Wyoming he served two terms in the state senate. The extensive scale on which Mr. Taylor has conducted his affairs and the success that has crowned his efforts at once display his sound business judgment and ability, qualities which when industriously ap- plied are bound to bring gratifying results.

ROBERT BRUCE TAYLOR was one of Hall County's sons who enlisted in the service of his country in its fight for democracy in the Digitized By

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World War and was one of those who were destined to make the supreme sacrifice in that cause.

Robert Bruce Taylor was born in Hall County, January 7, 1899, a son of Robert and Agnes (Littlefair) Taylor. His early educa- tion was acquired in school district number eighteen, this being supplemented by a course at the Kearney Military Academy. He was a student in the Baptist College at Grand Island when he enlisted for service in 1917. His company first located at Camp Logan, Colo- rado, later they were sent to Camp Greene, in North Carolina, going from there overseas. He died September 11, 1918, from wounds re- ceived in the battle of St. Mihiel. His memory will ever be cherished by his family and a host of friends for the noble cause for which his life was given and for the sterling traits of young manhood which he posessed.

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WILLIAM H. ANYAN, for many years a faithful and trusted employe of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, was well known and highly respected in Grand Island. He was born at Racine, Wisconsin, February 25, 1857, and died as the result of an accident, in the line of duty, November 6, 1918. His parents were William and Marion (Sharp) Anyan.

The name of Anyan became well known in Hall County over forty years ago, when the father of the late William H. Anyan, came here as manager of the government land office, in which he served for nine years, first under appointment of President Rutherford B. Hayes, and second under President Chester A. Arthur, in 1882. William Anyan was born at Hull, England, and in that industrial city learned the building trade. In 1852, being then twenty-six years old, he came to the United States and settled in Wisconsin and from that state enlisted for service in the Union army at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was a member of Company B, First Wis- consin heavy artillery, serving four years he was honorably discharged from military ser- vice in 1865. Following his release from the army he worked as a carpenter and builder at East Troy, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois. In 1873 he removed to Gage County, Nebraska, to take up a homestead near Beatrice, coming from there to Hall County under presidential appointment in 1878. Mrs Anyan has her husband's commissions signed by the presi- dents named above, entitling him to receive public money and conduct the business of the land office. He was a man of high character

and was a member of the Episcopal church. He had but two children, William H. and / George, both of whom are deceased.

William H. Anyan had common school ad- vantages and in his earlier years worked on the home farm and at the carpenter trade. He entered the service of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, July 5, 1880, being em- ployed at first as fireman and working his way up until he became engineer of a switch engine. In 1912 he received the injury that put an end to his life on the railroad and eventually caused his death. He was a kind, generous man and had a wide circle of friends.

On June 21, 1882, William H. Anyan mar- ried Miss Mary Cook, who was born in Han- over, Germany. Her parents were Henry and Catherine (Sandbury) Cook. Her father met with an accidental death when Mrs. Anyan was two years old, following which her mother brought her to the United States and Mrs. Anyan was reared in the family of an uncle, at Havana, Illinois. She had but little school training but became skilled in domestic in- dustries and has reared her four daughters in such a way that they reflect great credit on their home training. They are: Marion, the wife of Rufus Geer; Grace the wife of Clar- ence R. Helber, agent at Pine Bluffs, Wyo- ming, for the Union Pacific Railroad; Mar- garet, an assistant in the office of Dr. Farns- worth, Grand Island, and Irma, who lives at home. The family attends the Congregational church, to which Mr. Anyan was a liberal con- tributor. He was a Republican in his political views. He belonged to the fraternal order of United Workmen. Mrs. Anyan occupies a comfortable residence at No. 304 Fourth street, Grand Island.

EDWIN A. JONES, manager of the Gas- ton Music Company of Grand Island, is well known and highly respected, being a careful, attentive and reliable business man. Mr. Jones came to Grand Island in 1903 and has been connected with reliable business enter- prises since that time.

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 96

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