USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 12
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 12
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In 1879, shortly after attaining his majority, Mr. Snider and his father drove through, with two teams and two wagons, from Wisconsin to Hamilton county, Nebraska, three weeks being spent in completing the trip and an incident of the journey was the crossing of the Missouri river, at Plattsmouth, where they were delayed for a time by reason of the fact that the ferry-boat became lodged in the mud of that stream. They brought a small supply of household goods and in- stalled them in the sod house which they erected on eighty acres of railroad land which they purchased, in the present township of Union. This pioneer house was fourteen by twenty-eight feet in dimensions and continued to be the family's abiding place for six years. On his old place Elliot D. Snider set out a goodly number of native trees, as well as orchard trees, the most of the latter having died ont in later years. He reclaimed his land to cultivation and with increasing prosperity added to the area of his farm holdings. He experienced his share of losses and hardships in the early days, including loss of crops through droughts, but adverse conditions did not cause him to lose faith in the state of his adoption and his present prosperity fully justifies that faith. He is the eldest in a family of five children, and his next younger brother, Elmer, is living retired at Giltner, this county ; Charles died in 1892, at the age of twenty-eight years; David, Jr., is engaged in the bakery business at Gothenburg, Dawson county; and Melvia, the widow of Charles Hochruter, resides at Ravenna, Buffalo county. The honored father served as assessor in Hamilton county in the early days and was one of the highly honored citizens of this county at the time of his death, when eighty years of age. He was a Civil war veteran, having enlisted from Wisconsin in 1864 with Company O, Forty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was a corporal and participated in several skirmishes, serving to the end of the war.
Elliot D. Snider found his previous teaching experience of distinctive value after establishing his residence in Hamilton county, for here he gave about ten years of specially effective service as a teacher in the rural schools. He thus presided in typical sod schoolhouses of the early days, the equipment being of primitive type and including handmade benches and desks. In 1879, the year of his arrival in the county, he purchased eighty acres of land in Scoville town- ship and for this now valuable property he paid at the rate of five dollars an acre. He made payment largely through the medium of his earnings as a teacher and hired men to do the breaking of most of his land. He still owns and resides on his original homestead farm, which is now one of the model places of Scoville township and his total holdings of farm land in this county now aggregate fully seven hundred and twenty acres. He has been one of the vigorous and progressive representatives of the agricultural and live stock industry in the county and has
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been successful also in the feeding and the buying and shipping of live stock. He is the owner also of land in Cheyenne and Deuel counties and is actively interested in development work in those counties. Mr. Snider is an uncompromising advocate of the principles of the republican party and has been influential in its councils and campaign activities in Hamilton county. He is president of the Hamilton County Telephone Company and is known and valued as a most loyal and liberal citizen. In his immediate family circle there is no division of political sentiment, for his wife likewise is a republican, she having cast her first vote in 1920.
In 1890 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Snider to Miss Elizabeth J. Sherrard, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Sowers) Sherrard, who resided in Mercer county, Illinois, but are now deceased. Mrs. Snider was one of the successful teachers of Hamilton county, to which place she came in 1887. She taught in the city schools of Reynolds, Illinois, and in the country schools of Hamilton county for three years. One son (Mark) was born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Snider. He died at the age of eight months.
CHARLES MILTON JUETT
In the passing of Charles Milton Juett Hamilton county lost a progressive and representative citizen. His death occurred on the home farm December 10, 1914, and was an occasion of deep grief to his many friends throughout the community. A native of Ohio he was born in Fayette county, February 26, 1839, a son of Robert D. and Elizabeth (Clifton) Juett, the former a native of Kentucky while the latter was born in Ohio.
In early boyhood Charles M. Juett removed with his parents to New London, Iowa, and there received his education in the common schools. They made their home in Henry county, that state, where the father had taken up some timber land and Charles M. Juett assisted him with the farm work until the outbreak of the Civil war. He then enlisted in Company K, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, serving four years, and receiving his honorable discharge in 1865. He participated in many of the important battles of that conflict and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. After the close of the war he returned to Iowa, residing in Mt. Pleasant for a time, but in 1872 came west, settling in Hamilton county. There he home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres but after the destruction of his crops by the grasshoppers returned to his home in Iowa. There he was married and soon after- ward came west again, returning to Hamilton county. He made the trip overland with a mule team and brought some farm equipment in the shape of a mower and corn planter. His first home was a dugout with but one window and there he lived for two years and then built a small frame house. Their fuel was secured by burning cornstalks. And again in the year 1876 he lost everything as the result of another grasshopper storm. During the severe Easter blizzard he brought his horses into the house to keep them from freezing. Mr. Juett hauled his freight from Grand Island and Harvard and took his wheat to Farmers Valley mill. He survived all the hardships of early pioneer life, made a success of his farming and
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES M. JUETT
Vol. I :- 8
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at the time of his death owned four hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. He had but twenty-six dollars when he first came to Hamilton county.
In 1876 in Iowa occurred the marriage of Mr. Juett and Miss Elizabeth M. Juett, a native of Fulton county, Illinois. Nine children were born to their union : L. E., who died at the age of thirty-three years; Versses, engaged in farming in Hamilton county; Vella, the wife of Charles Bricker of Northport; Burt, a farmer of Hamilton county ; Charles, who died at the age of two years; Mont J., farming in Hamilton county ; Milton R., who is living with his mother; Sarah J., who is the wife of Calvin Lewis, residing near Litchfield, where he is engaged in farming ; and Lafayette. Lafayette enlisted from Hamilton county, July 22, 1917, for service in the World war. He received his training at Camp Dodge, went overseas, was soon afterwards placed in the medical corps and participated in the battle at St. Mihiel. After the signing of the armistice he was sent home and received his discharge at Camp Dodge.
Throughout his life Mr. Juett was a stanch democrat and also held membership in the Grand Army of the Republic at Giltner. He was known throughout the country as a progressive and successful agriculturist and his death has left a void in the community which will be hard to fill. His widow is still living on the home farm and is one of the prominent women of the vicinity.
ALBERT RATH
Albert Rath, who is now farming two hundred and eighty acres of fine land in Clay county, was born in Maywood, Illinois, on the 22d of October, 1865, and there resided, receiving his education in the country schools until he reached the age of eighteen years.
After putting his textbooks aside Albert Rath began working out on farms and in 1886 went to Kansas where he engaged in like work for one year. He then came to Nebraska, locating in Clay county, where he rented land and then pur- chased the lease on some school land of one hundred and twenty acres and started farming on his own account. He was successful in this farming venture from the first and soon increased his farm tract until he is now in possession of two hundred and eighty acres of fine improved land. He experienced all of the pioneer hardships of the early times and during the years of 1893 and 1894 raised practi- cally nothing. But as a man of great force and strong determination Mr. Rath never allowed any obstacle to remain long in his path and as a result is now enjoy- ing well earned success. He has always engaged in general farming and is recog- nized as one of the leading agriculturists of the county.
Before leaving Illinois Mr. Rath was married to Miss Irene Hanna, also a native of that state, and to them seven children have been born: William; Irving; Grace ; Laura ; Effie ; Howard ; and Everett.
Mr. Rath is a stanch supporter of the democratic party, being a firm believer in the principles of that party as factors in good government. He has always been active in the affairs of the community and has served as moderator on the school board and also as township treasurer. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern
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Woodmen of America. Mrs. Rath is prominent in the activities of the Methodist Episcopal church of Eldorado, of which she is a consistent member. Although the greater part of Mr. Rath's time has been devoted to his agricultural interests he has taken some interest in business circles, being a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator at Eldorado. Mr. Rath is indeed a representative citizen of Clay county and has many friends who appreciate his sterling characteristics and true personal worth.
SIMEON B. MONTGOMERY
When Simeon B. Montgomery passed away on the 9th of March, 1920, Clay and Nuckolls counties lost a pioneer and representative citizen. A native of Ohio, his birth occurred in Franklin county on the 11th of August, 1842, a son of Boone and Sallie Montgomery. His father was a tanner by trade and was well known throughout the community. Both parents resided in Ohio until death called them.
Simeon B. Montgomery received his education in Ohio and in 1873 came west, taking up a homestead in Nuckolls county. He passed through the Easter blizzard of 1873 and for three days was confined to the house, having to stay in bed in order to keep warm. He was a carpenter by trade and would go from the homestead every Monday morning to work in the vicinity throughout the week, leaving his wife and two children to hold down the land. It was two years before Mr. Montgomery got the title to the land. In 1875 he removed to Edgar and for two years worked out, at the end of that time engaging in the lumber business with his oldest son, William. From that year until 1918 he was active along that line of work and then retired. His death, which occurred on the 9th of March, 1920, came as a severe shock to his many friends in the county.
On the 28th of November, 1867, Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage to Miss Maria J. Peterson, a native of Ohio, where her birth occurred on the 21st of August, 1848. Her parents were Cornelius and Rhoda Peterson, also natives of Ohio and the parents of eleven children, four of whom are living. Mrs. Mont- gomery was the youngest member of the family. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery: Sallie B., who was born October 28, 1868, became the wife of Gaylord Wright, and died in 1908; William Ellis, whose birth occurred September 28, 1872, and is now bookkeeper for a large lumber-yard at Lewiston, Montana; George Thomas, born on the 7th of October, 1876, and now clerking in Rochester, Minnesota; Olive May, who is the wife of David Lee and resides in Detroit, Michigan; Mary Grace, the wife of Elmer Hager, a jeweler of Clay Center; and Ellie Frees, who married George Miller of Beatrice, a traveling salesman.
Throughout his entire life Mr. Montgomery was a stanch supporter of the democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. His religious faith was that of the Christian church and fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which order he was a member for twenty years. His fuueral was in charge of that organi- zation. There was no phase of the pioneer life and development of Nuckolls and Clay counties with which he was not thoroughly familiar, experience bringing him into contact with many of the conditions and hardships of the early days, while with
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the passing years, as the result of his industry and perseverance, he prospered. Mrs. Montgomery is now residing in Edgar, where she owns a nice home and in addition one hundred and sixty acres of fine land in Nuckolls county.
WILLIAM H. SUNDERMEIER
In scrutinizing the more salient points in the career of this well known citizen and representative farmer of Hamilton county, there is given a definite apprecia- tion of the fact that in the most emphatic sense he has been the architect of his own fortunes. He became virtually dependent upon his own resources when a mere boy, has known from youthful experience a goodly amount about pioneer times in Nebraska and his ability and well ordered activities have enabled him here to win a generous measure of material prosperity. In Deepwell township, Hamilton county, his attractive homestead farm is found in sections Nos. 19 and 20, and his landed estate in the county now comprises four hundred acres of valuable land a fact that bears its own significance as to his status in the community and the splendid success that has attended his earnest endeavors as one of the world's productive workers.
Mr. Sundermeier was born in Germany, on the 24th of December, 1872, and is a son of Henry and Minnie (Meier) Sundermeier, who came to America and established their home in Merrick county, Nebraska, on the 2d of June, 1884. For a time the father was employed at farm work in Merrick county and later became the owner of a farm. He developed this farm and continued his residence in Merrick county until he and his wife removed to the state of Oregon, where they passed the remainder of their lives. William H. Sundermeier was eleven years old at the time of the family arrival in Merrick county, Nebraska, but even prior to this, when but eight years old, he had begun to work for his hoard and clothing. He attended school at intervals as a boy and youth in Merrick county, and at the age of twelve years was receiving six dollars a month for his services as a farm workman. He continued in the employ of one man for five years and seven months and at the age of twenty-one years initiated his independent career as a farmer by renting land in Hamilton county. He thus continued operations three years and then purchased eighty acres in Deepwell township, for a consideration of one thousand and seven hundred dollars. The building im- provements on the place when it came into his possession were mainly represented by a small house of frame and sod construction and a small frame barn. Later he purchased an adjoining eighty acres and it was about the year 1904 that he sold this property and removed to Oregon, in which state he remained eleven months. He then returned to Hamilton county and repurchased his former farm. Two years later he purchased three hundred and twenty acres in section 20, Deep- well township, and here has developed one of the model farm properties of this section of Nebraska. He erected on the farm a modern house and other good buildings, has set out an orchard, to which he has given scientific care and has brought his land up to the best standard of productiveness. He is now owner of four hundred acres, devoted to diversified agriculture and the raising of excellent types of live stock and it is interesting to record that he showed his loyalty during
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the nation's participation in the World war by keeping the productive activities of his farm up to the highest possible point, in keeping with the policy earnestly urged by the government. In achieving this result he and one of his sons had the personal care of the entire four hundred acres and did in an individual way the large amount of work required of them in this connection at a time when it was virtually impossible to hire farm hands in this section. of the state.
At the age of twenty-four years Mr. Sundermeier was united in marriage to Miss Anna Schroeder, who likewise is a native of Germany and who has proved a veritable helpmeet to her husband in his forward movement to the goal of sub- stantial prosperity. Of their children the eldest is William, who resides on and has active management of one of his father's farms; Ida is the wife of Henry Obermeier, another prosperous farmer of Hamilton county; Rose is the wife of Gottlieb Kuehner, a farmer of this county; and Alice, Theodore, Arthur, Jessie, Elaine and Delares all remain at home, the vitality and cheer of which is assured by this gracious family circle.
Mr. Sundermeier naturally takes pride in his fine farm property and con- tinues to give to it his personal supervision, the while he is progressive alike in his industrial enterprise and in his attitude as a citizen. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Phillips and the Phillips Grain Company and is a director of the Farmers Lumber Company at Phillips. He is a member of the school board of his district and is a trustee of the Lutheran church at Doniphan, of which he and his wife are zealous communicants.
PETER C. KRABIEL
Peter C. Krabiel, engaged in general farming on section 34 in the precinct of Hamilton, Hamilton county, and also interested in the Farmers' Elevator at Giltner, was born in Woodford county, Illinois, August 23, 1863. He was reared on a farm and pursued his early education in the district schools, while later he attended the town schools and for a time studied in Metamora, Illinois. Through his youthful days he remained with his parents on the home farm and early be- came familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He afterward worked out as a farm hand at eighteen dollars per month and still later worked at the carpenter's trade at a dollar and a quarter per day.
The year 1883 witnessed the arrival of Peter C. Krabiel in Nebraska, for in that year he came with his parents to Hamilton county. Here he began farming on his own account on rented land in 1888 and for several years continued to cultivate leased land, but carefully saved his earnings until his capital was suf- ficient to enable him to purchase a forty acre farm. Then he and his father bought eighty acres upon which there was a small frame house and some minor improve- ments. Mr. Krabiel put every fence, post and tree on the place, substantial build- ings now adorning it, and he broke about one-half of the land. He now owns altogether four hundred acres of excellent farm property on which are two sets of good farm buildings and his attention is given to general agricultural pur- suits and stock raising, although he rents most of his land.
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Mr. Krabiel is connected with the Farmers' Elevator Company of Giltner. He is an independent voter, nor has he ever been an office holder, but has served on the school board of district No. 70. He has led an active and useful life and his energy has carried him steadily forward to the goal of success, so that he is now one of the substantial agriculturists of Hamilton precinct.
MELCHIOR FIGI
Melchior Figi has been a resident of Sutton for twenty-five years and during that time has become widely known throughout the community as a business man of great ability. Twenty-four years of this time Melchior Figi has devoted to the conduct of a mercantile establishment, building up an extensive trade, but in March, 1920, he retired from that business and entered the Sutton Bank as vice president.
Melchior Figi was born in Switzerland, March 21, 1865, a son of Adam and Sarah (Speich) Figi, both natives of that country. They came to America and made their home in Wisconsin for four years, but at the termination of that period returned to Switzerland where both passed away. The father was a successful merchant and had followed that line of business throughout his entire life. Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Figi, four of whom are living, Mr. Figi being the only member of the family residing in the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Figi were consistent members of the Congregational church.
Mr. Figi received his early education in Switzerland, but also attended the country schools in York county for a number of years. In 1880 he settled in Hamilton county, where he obtained work on his uncle's farm and there re- mained until he saved up enough to purchase some land and engage in farming on his own account. For sixteen years he was a leading figure in the agricultural circles of the county and then disposing of his farm removed to Sutton, where he has made his home for twenty-five years. On arriving in Sutton he engaged in the general mercantile business, in which line of work he was actively engaged until in March of the year 1920, when he became vice president of the Sutton State Bank.
In 1887 in Hamilton county occurred the marriage of Mr. Figi and Miss Abbie Clark, a daughter of F. H. Clark, an early pioneer of Hamilton county. He was an old soldier and built the first frame house in Hamilton county, haul- ing lumber from Beaver Crossing and Lincoln to build his home. Mrs. Figi was the first female white child born in Hamilton county. Five children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Figi: Sarah, who is the wife of V. Breeden, station agent for the B. & M. Railroad at Ericson; Lucy, who married St. Clair Dickson, a farmer near Saronville; Fred A., who is residing in Rochester, Minnesota, where he is a doctor connected with the Mayo Brothers Sanitarium; Anna, who is the wife of Harold Patterson, a dentist of Geneva; and Robert, in school. Dr. Fred A. Figi was in service in the World war nine months, but did not get across. He was located at a hase hospital at Hampton Roads.
Mr. Figi is a stanch republican and takes an active interest in the affairs
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of that party, both locally and nationally. His religions faith is that of the Congregational church and fraternally he is a Woodman, Odd Fellow and a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Figi has been active in civic affairs as a member of the town board and is now serving on the town- ship board. He is owner of considerable land and other property, being in posses- sion of two farms, one in Hamilton county and the other in Buffalo county and also owns the opera house in Sutton. Mr. Figi is in every sense of the word a self-made man, having acquired every dollar of his fortune by his own diligence and industry.
THOMAS EDWARD WILLIAMS
Thomas Edward Williams, who has retired from business after almost thirty years' connection with banking in Aurora, took up his abode in this city in 1888. His straightforward policy, his progressiveness tempered by a safe conservatism and his enterprise and reliability were salient features in the attainment of the success which he is now enjoying. Mr. Williams was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, March 23, 1849, and is a son of George W. and Malinda (Streeter) Williams. The father was born in Le Roy, Genesee county, New York, June 7, 1824, and his life record covered the intervening years to February, 1886. He was a son of James Williams, who removed westward to Wisconsin in 1844 and spent his last days on a farm in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. He came of Welsh ancestry. The maternal grandfather, Henry Streeter, was also a native of the Empire state and in 1844 took up his abode in Wisconsin. In 1872 he came to Nebraska to reside until his life's labors were ended in death. He came of a family of English ancestry. His daughter, Mrs. George W. Williams, was born near Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county, New York, August 2, 1829. It was in the year 1844 that Mr. and Mrs. George W. Williams went to Wisconsin-the same year in which their respective parents became residents of that state. Mr. Williams settled on a farm and it was in the Badger state that he wedded Malinda Streeter. He concentrated his efforts and attention upon business affairs and became well known as a business man at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he continued to live until his death in February, 1886. His affairs were capably and successfully managed and he thus gained a substantial measure of prosperity. His early political support was given to the whig party and he afterward became a stanch republican, doing everything in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the party. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Universalist church. They had a family of seven children, but only four are living: Thomas E .; Ella, the wife of L. C. Fredricks, a grocer of Helena, Montana ; William P., an expert accountant who is now engaged in the auto parts business in Seattle, Washington ; and George. The mother, Mrs. Malinda (Streeter) Williams, passed away in February, 1911.
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