USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 19
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 19
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In 1875 Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Anna Sophia Swanson, who was born in Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of four children, three of whom are living: Clarence, who is employed in a real estate office in Chicago : Henry V., who is county clerk; and Arthur S., who is county superintendent of
C. P. NELSON AND SONS
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schools in Hamilton county. Mrs. Nelson passed away May 30, 1891, her death being deeply felt by many friends, as well as her immediate family, for she was a lady of many excellent traits of character which endeared her to all who knew her. Mr. Nelson now occupies a beautiful home in Aurora at No. 918 Fifteenth street and is the owner of a large amount of land in Chase and Hitchcock counties, Nebraska, and in Weld county, Colorado. He also has another tract of three hundred and twenty acres in Western Nebraska and his holdings are the visible evidences of his life of well directed energy and thrift. Every dollar he possesses he has made through his own efforts and his life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what can be accomplished through individual labor, intelligently directed. He is a member of the Swedish Mission church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He served as a member of the school board and also a member of the town board while on the farm for a number of years and at no time has he been neglectful of the duties of citizenship. On the contrary he has cooperated in all the improvements which tend to promote business progress and advance the welfare of this section of the state and his worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged.
CHARLES F. MEYER
Charles F. Meyer is one of the respected and influential citizens of Sutton, where he now resides in retirement from active business life. A native of Prussia he was born in that country February 3, 1847, a son of Charles F. and Pauline (Deubrich) Meyer, the former a native of Germany, while the latter was of Spanish descent. The father came to America in 1852 and resided in New York state for but a short time and then removed to Wisconsin in 1856. He was a shoemaker and tanner by trade and followed these occupations there with a great amount of success. His death occurred while residing in that state. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer, Charles F., our subject, being the only one living. Mr. Meyer was married three times and to his second marriage two children were born, both of whom are deceased. Throughout his life the father was a stanch democrat and his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church.
Charles F. Meyer received his education in the public schools of Wisconsin and after putting his textbooks aside learned the shoemaker's trade, which he fol- lowed for some time. In 1864, at the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and participated in many of the im- portant battles of the Civil war, among them the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi. After the close of the war he returned to Wisconsin, where he resumed his shoe- making business and in addition learned wagon and carriage painting, following this latter line of work for two years. In the fall of 1872 he came to Nebraska, locating in Sutton on the 17th of October, that year, at the time of his arrival the population of Sutton numbering but about fifty people. He followed his trade as a shoemaker in Sutton until 1881, when he was made deputy postmaster and served in that office from 1884 to 1888. At the termination of that office he en- gaged in the conduct of a general mercantile store, continuing in this business
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in which he realized a substantial amount of success until 1892, at which time he retired.
In March, 1868, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Rachael Honey, a native of Wisconsin and of Scotch parentage. Her father was one of the pioneer homesteaders of Filhnore county, having come to that county in 1870. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Meyer four children have been born: Frank, who is an electri- cian at Trenton, New Jersey ; Viola J., who is teaching in the schools of Florence ; Madge Evelyn, superintendent of the Milford Home; and Llora, who is filling a government position at Port Townsend, Oregon.
Mr. Meyer has the distinction of having been the first town marshal of Sutton, elected to that office in 1878. Fraternally Mr. Meyer is identified with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Meyer has for many years been one of the influential citizens of Clay county and a man who readily gives his assistance to the advancement of every enterprise seeking the further development and improvement of his county and state. He and his wife are now residing in a very comfortable home near the business district of Sutton.
N. O. DEINES
N. O. Deines, who is engaged in the conduct of a butchering business and grocery store in Clay Center, was born in Russia, in November, 1877, a son of John and Lena (Schliker) Deines, both of whom were natives of Russia, born in 1833. They came to Clay county, Nebraska, in 1878, when the father purchased land which he farmed for a time and then sold. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Clay Center, where both he and his wife passed away, his death occurring in September, 1896. In their family were twelve children, of whom eleven are living.
N. O. Deines is the third in order of birth in the family and all are living in Clay county with the exception of the eldest sister. The father gave his political endorsement to the republican party, voting in support of its men and measures, yet never seeking office. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church and their well-spent lives gained for them the respect and confidence of all who knew them.
N. O. Deines attended the Clay county schools, completing his studies in Clay Center. His first work was in connection with the butchering business, which he followed with his brother, William M., about thirty years ago. He afterward purchased the interest of his brother in the business and has conducted the store to the present time. He has also secured a line of groceries and ranks with the progressive merchants of the town, carrying an attractive stock of staple and fancy groceries and an excellent line of meats. He likewise owns land in Colorado and is truly a self-made man, for his success has all come to him as a reward of his persistency, energy and fair dealing.
In March, 1904, Mr. Deines was married to Miss Elizabeth Schwingle, who was born in Clay county, Nebraska, a daughter of George Schwingle, who became
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one of the early homesteaders in this part of the state and passed away in Clay Center in May, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Deines are the parents of six children : Helen, Burnette, Catherine, Norval and Royce, all in school; and Mary Elizabeth, three years of age. The parents attend the Congregational church and are also members of the Highlanders. Mr. Deines has voted with the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise but does not seek nor desire office, de- voting his entire attention to his business affairs since he made his initial start in the business world about thirty years ago.
THOMAS HOWARD
This publication exercises one of its most consistent and important functions when it enters memorial tribute to such honored and resourceful pioneers as the late Thomas Howard, who came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, about four years after the admission of the state to the Union, proved well his powers of mind and body in coping with the conditions and influences that marked the early period in the history of this now opulent commonwealth. He was one of the venerable pioneer citizens of this section of the state at the time of his death, which occurred at his home in the village of Giltner, on the 28th of December, 1920, his birth having occurred in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1837. Mr. Howard was reared in the old Keystone state, where he received the advantages of the common schools of the period and his earlier pioneer experience was gained in the state of Wisconsin, where he was residing at the outbreak of the Civil war. His youthful patriotism was shown by his prompt enlistment in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers. At Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, he enlisted as a private in Company H, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and the history of this gallant command represents virtually the record of his career as a soldier of the Union, for with it he served during practically the entire period of the war: He participated in twenty-seven battles, a number of them of major importance, ineluding Bull Run and Gettysburg. He was three times wounded, but was not long incapacitated for service. After receiving his honorable discharge at the close of the war, Mr. Howard returned to Wisconsin and there gave his attention to farm enterprise until 1871, when, with team and covered wagon, he and his wife set ont for the new state of Nebraska. They brought with them about sixty head of horses and cattle and six weeks elapsed before they reached their destination in Hamilton county. Here Mr. Howard entered claim to a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Union township and the original domicile which he provided was a small shanty, with dirt roof and floor, a sod addition having later added to the accommodations of the primitive dwelling, the first stable also having been of sod construction. Sutton and Lincoln were Mr. Howard's principal trading points in the early days and he did much to provide the family larder by his prowess with the rifle, with which he killed antelopes, deer and wild turkeys and participated in two or three buffalo hunts. He was out-of-doors during much of the historic Easter blizzard, as he found it necessary to keep careful watch of his live stock and during the three days that the storm prevailed the family depended upon melted snow for
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water, as it was impossible to use the well on the place. The usual experience of the pioneers in connection with loss through droughts and grasshoppers fell to the lot of Mr. Howard, and on one occasion not only all vegetation on the Howard farm was destroyed by the grasshoppers, but the granary was literally covered with the insects. Mr. Howard and his wife did not falter in faith or courage under adverse conditions and their persistency was rewarded with the substantial prosperity which eventually came to them in connection with farm industry in the state of their adoption.
In Wisconsin was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Howard to Miss Elizabeth Cutts, who was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, and concerning whose family history adequate record appears elsewhere in this work, in the personal sketch of her brother, Edward Cutts. Mr. Howard continued in active supervision of his fine farm until 1906, when he and his wife established their home at Giltner, where he passed the remainder of his life. Of their ten children the eldest is Laura, who is the wife of Henry Gimple, a farmer in Hamilton county ; Russell now owns and has charge of his father's old home farm; Alice, Alva, Margaret, George, Scott, May, Eva and Bertha are all deceased. Mrs. Howard endured the trials and hardships of the pioneer days but in the gracious twilight of life she is surrounded by friends who are tried and true, is enjoying peace and prosperity and finds that in her widowhood there is a generous measure of consolation and com- pensation granted to her in the community in which she is known and honored as a true pioneer woman.
Mr. Howard took lively and helpful interest in community affairs, was a stanch republican, was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic and was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, as is also his widow.
CHARLES FRANK
Charles Frank, who is now residing on his farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Harvard township, Clay county, was born in Germany on the 15th of November, 1854, and at the age of ten years came with his parents to the United States. The parents first located at Bloomington, Illinois, and there Charles Frank grew to manhood. His parents had a fine farm in that vicinity and after putting his textbooks aside Mr. Frank engaged in working out on various farms, for his services receiving eighteen dollars a month. He started out into life for himself at the age of sixteen years. In the spring of 1884 he came west to Nebraska and located in Clav county, where he lived on rented land for six years. In 1890, however, he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, for which he paid twelve dollars and fifty cents per acre. This land now forms a part of his present farm. There were a few improvements on the place, consisting of a log house and log barn and Mr. Frank immediately set about to bring the land to a highly cultivated state. From time to time he increased his acreage until he is now in possession of three hundred and twenty acres on which he engages in general farming, mostly grain, and raising cattle and hogs.
On the 1st of July. 1880, Mr. Frank was married to Miss Minnie Casselman
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and they have become parents of eight children: Howard; Ida; Walter; Harry; Clara ; Leo; Charles; and Gordon.
In the civic affairs of the community Mr. Frank has always taken an active part and fraternally is identified with the Woodmen. He is one of the valuable citizens of Nebraska of German birth and has proved himself to be a citizen of whom any community would be proud.
J. C. OSBORN
Death often removes those whom a community can ill afford to lose. Such was the case when J. C. Osborn passed away on the 11th of January, 1910, leaving a widow and nine children. He had played well his part in the world's work as a representative agriculturist of the community and as a supporter of all those things which make for progress and for public welfare. He was born in Coffeeville, Missouri, March 2, 1861, and was a son of John W. and Catherine (Knox) Osborn, who were natives of Tennessee, but became early residents of Missouri and in 1871 removed to Kansas, where their remaining days were passed. The father served on the Union side in the Civil war and when not engaged in military service his attention was devoted to the development of his farm that he might thus provide for his family.
J. C. Osborn was reared and educated in Missouri and Kansas, spending his youthful days as a farm bred boy. He owned land in Kansas and while there residing was united in marriage in October, 1886, to Miss Jennie Williams, who was born in Trenton, Missouri, a daughter of Thomas and Arminta (Embree) Williams, the former a native of Indiana, while the latter was born in Missouri. They were married in that state and afterward removed to Indiana where they lived for some time, subsequently returning to Missouri. The father was a soldier of the Confederate army during the Civil war and lost his eyesight while with the southern troops. To him and his wife were born six children of whom Mrs. Osborn was the third in order of birth. By her marriage she became the mother of nine children : Carl, living on a farm in Hamilton county ; Mabel, the wife of L. A. Cunningham, a farmer residing at Lodge Pole, Nebraska ; Alice, the wife of J. E. Lilliewhite, who occupies a farm in Utah and is a member of the state legislature; Allen, the twin brother of Alice, a resident farmer of Hamilton county ; Myra, the wife of Joe Green who is engaged in farming in this county; Ronald Osborn of San Diego, California, who enlisted in the navy in April, 1917, and is still a member, while during the World war he saw service overseas; John C. who was in the army in the Coast Artillery and is now at home; Essie, who will graduate from the high school in 1922 ; and Oriole, also in school.
Mrs. Oshorn attends the Christian church and she and her family are highly esteemed in Aurora, where she took up her abode in the spring of 1920, having a nice home at No. 517 M street. Mr. Osborn was a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Improved Order of Red Men, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. Coming to Nebraska in 1889 he continued a resident of this state until his death. which
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occurred on the home farm in 1910. To Mrs. Osborn was left the care of her large family, the eldest being but twenty-two years of age at the time Mr. Osborn passed away. She provided for the household through capable business management and is now situated in a comfortable home in Aurora, while her financial resources are sufficient to supply her with all of the necessities and many of the luxuries of life.
JOHN PIERSON
A life of industry and activity brought John Pierson to the goal of success in business, while the integrity and reliability of his business methods gained for him the respect and confidence of all who knew him. For a long period he was connected with agricultural pursuits in Hamilton county and spent his last days in Aurora in the enjoyment of well earned rest. He was born in Sweden in 1853 and passed away in 1916. He had acquired his education in the schools of his native country and came to the United States alone when about twenty years of age, for the reports which he had heard concerning the opportunities of the new world determined him to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. He settled first at Princeton, Illinois, and worked as a farm hand there for about two years. In the '80s he arrived in Nebraska, taking up his abode in York county and subse- quently removed to Saunders county where he purchased a farm from the railroad. With characteristic energy he bent his efforts to the development and improvement of his land and eventually sold the farm, removing to Hamilton county in 1886. Here he made investment in eighty acres of land northwest of Aurora and from time to time as his financial resources increased he added to his original tract, until at the time of his death he was the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred acres, all of which was acquired through his own effort. His original home was a little three-room dwelling but later he built a nice residence and carried on the work of improving his farm until he had one of the best properties in his section of the county. Year after year he continued to till the fields and cultivate his crops until 1916 when he put aside active work and removed to Aurora, purchasing an attractive home on West M street. His widow is now living in a comfortable home at 1316 M street.
It was in 1884 that Mr. Pierson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Rapp who was born in Sweden, a daughter of John and Anna Rapp who came to the United States in 1868, settling first at Princeton, Illinois, where her father fol- lowed the occupation of farming. He was for many years actively identified with agricultural interests in that locality and passed away in Illinois at the venerable age of eighty-six years. Mrs. Rapp survives and is now living with her daughter Mrs. Pierson, at the notable age of one hundred years, having been born in May, 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson became the parents of five children: Julia, the wife of Art Johnston, a farmer of this county; Herman, who carries on farming in Hamilton county ; Plenney, a farmer who died in 1920 at the age of thirty-two years; Robert, who lives with his mother; and Effie, the wife of Ralph Jones, a farmer of Hamilton county.
JOHN PIERSON AND FAMILY
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Mr. Pierson was very successful in the conduct of his business affairs and in addition to tilling the soil he raised considerable stock while on the farm, making a specialty of hogs. He borrowed money with which to come to the United States and as the years passed worked his way steadily upward, all of his success and prosperity being attributable entirely to his own labors, perseverance and capable management. In his political views he was a republican and his religious faith was that of the Swedish Mission church, with which Mrs. Pierson is still identified. He was devoted to the welfare of home and family and found his greatest happiness at his own fireside, so that his loss has been there most deeply felt. Mrs. Pierson still makes her home in Aurora, being most pleasantly situated, her time being given to filial care of her mother, to the direction of her own household and to the social pleasures in which she is sought as an active participant.
PHILLIP H. SCHWAB
Since 1885 Phillip H. Schwab has been prominent in the agricultural circles of Clay county and he is now living retired in Sutton, enjoying the fruits of his years of diligence and industry. A native of Germany, his birth occurred near Darmstadt, June 29, 1841, a son of Henry and Margaret (Kuhl) Schwab, both natives of that country. The father and mother came to Illinois and settled in Lee county in 1847. There the father bought a farm, whereon he resided until his death. He was a successful and progressive farmer and hauled his grain and hogs to Chicago, a distance of ninety-three miles, where he found a ready market for them. The hogs brought two and one-half dollars per hundred pounds. Eight chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schwab, four sons and four daughters. Only two of the family are living, however, Phillip H., whose name initiates this review, and Mar- garet, who is the wife of Henry Beard and resides in California. Throughout his life Mr. Schwab was a member of the republican party, casting his first vote for John C. Fremont. Both he and his wife were consistent and active members of the Lutheran church.
Phillip H. Schwab received his education in the country schools of Illinois, then offering but few educational opportunities, and after putting his textbooks aside assisted his father on the farm. He entered the Civil war in 1861, enlisting in Company B, Fifty-second Illinois Infantry. He served with that regiment until the end of the war and was wounded slightly a number of times. He participated in many of the hard fought battles of the war, and was at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and the siege of Corinth. He was also with Sherman on his march to the sea. On the 6th of July, 1865, he received his discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, and returned to Illinois, where he bought a farm and there resided for a number of years. He was a member of the state militia in 1878 and served as first lieutenant of Company F, Fourth Illinois Infantry from 1878 to 1885. In that year he tendered his resignation and removed to Clay county. He sold his Illinois land and purchased some land in Clay county, part of which he still owns. He has owned various farms, which he has improved and then sold. For a number of years he engaged in the grain elevator business in Sutton. He also had a grain elevator
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at Lushton and elevators at several other places and achieved a substantial amount of success in that connection.
In 1868 occurred the marriage of Mr. Schwab and Miss Mary Schaefle, a native of northern Illinois and a daughter of Jacob Schaefle, who was a pioneer of that state. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Schwab four children have been born: Celina, who is the wife of C. L. Rosa, who works for the Standard Oil Company at Chicago. Illinois ; Laura, who is the wife of A. H. Lewis, formerly engaged in the jewelry business but now a traveling salesman; Reuben P., who is a chiropractor and resides in California ; and Nellie, who is the wife of W. F. Hoeger of Sutton.
In politics Mr. Schwab is a stanch republican and for a number of years served as county commissioner. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, having served the latter organization as post commander for a period of fifteen years. He has been on the Soldiers' Relief Board since 1892. Mr. Schwab is now residing in a fine home in Sutton, retired from all active business life. His many years of diligence and industry have brought him success and financial independence and he is respected and loved by all who know him.
EDWARD P. TITMAN
Edward P. Titman, widely known as one of the prominent farmers and suc- cessful stock raisers living in the vicinity of Aurora, was born in New Jersey on the 30th of August, 1868. His boyhood days were passed on the old home farm in that state and his educational opportunities were those accorded by the country school system in New Jersey. He attended usually about three months in the year and while still in the east he worked in the timber regions and on farms. In 1885, when a youth of seventeen years, he went to Iowa with his parents and two years afterward came to Hamilton county, where since 1887 he has made his home. He continued to assist his father in the work of the home farm a part of the time and worked out by the month a part of the time until 1892. In the following year he began farming on his own account on rented land, but was able to raise nothing in 1893 and 1894 because of the widespread drought.
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