USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 22
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 22
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Since age conferred upon Dr. Griess the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party, having firm faith in the principles of that party as factors in good government. He is a consistent member of the German Reformed church, while his wife is a member of the Congregational church. Fraternally Dr. Griess is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, having men- bership in the York Lodge, and he is likewise a member of Xi Psi Phi, a college fraternity. In the line of his profession he has been a member of the Nebraska State Dental Board for five years. Dr. Griess has always been active in the civic affairs of the community and for many years has been a member of the Sutton school board, which he is now serving as secretary. He is the owner of some fine land in Clay county and as a result of his extensive practice is financially inde- pendent. Since opening his office in Sutton for the practice of his profession Dr. Griess has devoted his entire attention to his work and is regarded as one of the most skilful and popular members of his profession in the state.
CHARLES A. PEMBROOK
A prominent and well known citizen of Harvard is Charles Pembrook, who for eighteen years carried a rural route in Clay county and also for a number of years was prominent in the agricultural development of the community. He is now making his home in Harvard, where he has been residing retired since August 20, 1920. Charles A. Pembrook was born in Ottawa, La Salle connty, Illinois, on the 4th of May, 1846, a son of David and Mary (Reynolds) Pem- brook, both natives of New York state. His grandfather was Enos Pembrook, a native of England and about whom it is said in the History of Ottawa, Illinois : " A notable arrival in 1825 was Enos Pembrook. He had previously lived in Alton, having come to that place from New York state. He came to Ottawa, May 1, 1825, and settled on a section in the eastern part of the township, where he lived with his wife until his death, which occurred in 1832. He served in the Indian war, and after his death, his wife received a pension." The parents of Charles A. Pembrook went to Illinois from their native state when young people and the father had the distinction of being one of the first boys to locate in Ottawa. David Pembrook received his education in the schools of Illinois and made a trip up the river from Alton to Ottawa, in company with two Indians. He later in life engaged in farming and became one of the leading agriculturists in the community in which he resided. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pembrook, eight now living, of whom our subject is the only one residing in Nebraska. He was the fourth in order of birth in the family. Mr. and Mrs. Pembrook were active and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he always gave his allegiance to the republican party.
Charles A. Pembrook is indebted to the schools of Illinois for his education. In 1863 he volunteered his services to the Union army and enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the important battles of that conflict, was in the Atlanta campaign, with Sherman on his march to the sea,
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES A. PEMBROOK
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and in July, 1865, received his honorable discharge at Chicago. He then returned to Illinois, where he took up farming and there remained until 1886, when he came to Nebraska and located in Clay county. He bought a farm, which he later lost, and then rented land until 1902, when he moved into Harvard and engaged in delivering mail on a rural mail route for eighteen years. As a result of his diligence and determined effort, Mr. Pembrook became financially indepen- dent and on the 20th of August, 1920, he retired from active life.
In 1868 occurred the marriage of Mr. Pembrook and Miss Hortense Soule, a native of New York and a daughter of Louis and Angeline (Stuck) Soule, also natives of that state. On the paternal side, she is of English descent, one ancestor of the family, George Soule, having come from England in the May- flower. Her grandfather, Enos Soule, was a native of New York and her mater- nal grandfather, John Stuck, was born in Germany. In 1856 Mr. and Mrs. Soule went to Illinois, where they resided until death. Six children were born to them, five of whom are living, Mrs. Pembrook being the only one residing in Nebraska. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pembrook six children have been born : Ella, the widow of Ed F. King, a former traveling salesman, resides in Harvard; E. E., foreman in a railroad shop at Sonth Sioux City; William E., who is engineer on the Burlington and resides at South Sioux City; Grace, the widow of James Hennessey, makes her home at Lincoln; Herbert, a mechanic at Harvard; and Ralph is a civil engineer and has traveled extensively in the United States and in South America. He participated in the World war and received the commission of first lieutenant, and at the close of that conflict returned with the rank of captain. He was active at Argonne and was gassed at St. Mihiel.
The political allegiance of Mr. Pembrook is given to the republican party in the interests of which he takes an active part. His religious faith is that of the Christian church and he has membership in the Grand Army of the Republic and has been commander of his post. Obstacles and difficulties in his path have seemed but to serve as an impetus for renewed effort on his part and his persistent labor has enabled him ultimately to win a place among the pros- perous residents of Clay county.
FREDERICK C. MATHER
Frederick C. Mather, now a retired hardware merchant living in Aurora, was born in Michigan, February 22, 1856, his parents being Frederick and Angeline (Carver) Mather, the former a native of Ohio, while the latter was born in Con- necticut. The paternal grandfather, Don C. Mather, was a native of Boston, Ohio, or rather he was born on the site of Boston, which town was founded by himself and his brother and has since become a part of Akron, Ohio. The father of Angeline Carver was William Carver, who was born in Connecticut, where he followed the occupation of farming for many years and in old age removed to Michigan, where his last days were spent. The marriage of Frederick Mather and Angeline Carver was celebrated in Indiana, to which state they had removed in early life. In
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1836 Mr. Mather became a resident of Michigan, where he took up the occupation of farming and he and his wife continued to make their home in this state through- out their remaining days. He had homesteaded forty acres of land which he secured as a government claim and which remained in his possession to the time of his death. He had brought a log chain from Ohio to Michigan and used this in break- ing up the ground with an ox-team. He passed through all of the hardships and privations of pioneer life and by his labors contributed to the upbuilding and progress of the community in which he settled. He voted with the republican party and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of three children: Frederick of this review; Frank, who was en- gaged in the hardware business for a number of years at Milford, Nebraska, where he passed away in July, 1920; and May, the wife of Lewis R. Taylor, who was the owner of a telephone system for a number of years and is now extensively engaged in farming at Angola, Indiana.
Frederick C. Mather obtained a district school education and afterward attended academies in Indiana, thus completing his preparation for life's practical and responsible duties. When not busy with his textbooks he gave his attention to farming and teaching school until he reached the age of twenty-two years and had also clerked in a store in Orland, Indiana, on Saturdays, this bringing him his initial experience along mercantile lines. It was in 1880 that he arrived in Aurora, Nebraska, where he established a hardware store on the 20th of January, 1881, opening his stock of goods in a little room sixteen by twenty-two feet. As the years passed he built up a nice business and increased his stock as the demands of his trade warranted. Naturally from time to time he was obliged to seek more commodious quarters and as the years passed he became owner of two stores and had a half interest in still another. He thus ranked with the leading hardware merchants of his section of the state and continued actively in the business until 1907 when he sold his store and is now living retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest. In 1880 he had erected a large two-story building in which he con- tinued to the time in which he sold his hardware stock. He disposed of the building to the First National Bank in 1918.
On the 1st of October, 1878, Mr. Mather was married to Miss Alice Sears, a native of Sandwich, Illinois, and a daughter of Archibald and Rachael (Carver) Sears, the former a native of the state of New York, while the latter was from Connecticut. Removing westward they settled in Illinois and there the death of Mr. Sears occurred, while Mrs. Sears made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Mather to the time of her death. Three sons have been born to this marriage: Merle S., an electrician of Aurora, who was graduated from the Aurora high school and also from the Nebraska State University; Orion, who was graduated from the Aurora high school, the State University and Harvard University, is now financial editor on the Chicago Tribune; Roy F. is associate editor of the Los Angeles Herald of Los Angeles, California. He, too, was educated in the high school and in the State University.
Mr. Mather is a Mason, loyally following the teachings and purposes of the craft. In politics he is a republican and has served on the school board and as a member of the city council. He and his wife now spend the winter months in California, thus enjoying the milder climate of the Pacific coast. Progressiveness,
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diligence and constructive methods in business won for Mr. Mather a very sub- stantial competence, so that he and his wife are able to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. The most envious cannot grudge them their prosperity so honorably has it been won and so worthily used, and, moreover, throughout his active business career Mr. Mather contributed, in large measure, to the commercial development and upbuilding of city and county.
PETER J. REFSHAUGE
Peter J. Refshauge, secretary and treasurer of the First Trust Company of Aurora, was born on the 14th of June, 1886, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and is a brother of J. J. Refshange, cashier of the First National Bank, in connection with whose sketch on another page of this work is found extended reference to the family.
Peter J. Refshauge obtained his education in the schools of Cedar Falls, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school. He was born and reared on a farm and through vacation periods his time was largely devoted to the work of the fields. In fact his opportunity to attend school largely came in the winter season, while in the spring he took his place as an assistant in the work of plowing and planting. In 1906 Mr. Refshauge arrived in Davey, Nebraska, and became associated with his brother in a bank. While thus engaged he pursued a course in bookkeeping in Lincoln, Nebraska, and in 1907 removed to Marquette where he accepted the position as bookkeeper in the First National Bank, con- tinuing to occupy that position for a year. He next went to Rutland, South Dakota, where he purchased a bank, which he conducted until May, 1909. He then re- moved to Hordville, Nebraska, and made investment in the First State Bank of that place, but sold his interest there in September, 1918, and came to Aurora where he aided in organizing the First Trust Company, and became secretary and treas- urer. Through the intervening period he has acted in this capacity and his previous banking experience and his knowledge of financial matters well qualify him for the onerous and responsible duties that devolve upon him.
On the 10th of May, 1911, Mr. Refshauge was married to Miss Elfreda Hansen, a daughter of the Rev. L. Hansen of Davey, Nebraska, a Lutheran minister who engaged in preaching in this state for a quarter of a century but is now living retired, making his home at Davey. Mr. and Mrs. Refshauge have become the parents of a daughter, Adelaide, eight years of age. Mr. Refshauge is a member of the Lutheran church and has attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is a republican and has served as a member of the school board and of the town board. He assisted materially in upbuilding and beautifying the town of Hordville and erected a fine residence there noted for its architecture and for the landscape gardening surrounding the home. He took up his abode at Hordville when the town was new and contributed in most substantial measure to its progress and improvement. He now devotes his entire attention to the First Trust Company, with which he has been identified since its organization.
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This company is today conducting an extensive farm loan business and also has a large insurance department, both branches of the business constituting sources of substantial success.
0. 0. BUCK
0. O. (Ole) Buck, editor of the Harvard Courier and executive secretary of the Nebraska Press Association, was born in DeWitt county, Illinois, November 19, 1871. An injury received when he was only five years old made it impossible for him to get but two years' schooling and rendered him a cripple for life. In spite of this handicap he studied at home and commenced teaching a country school when only seventeen years old.
August 8, 1894, Mr. Buck was married to Lilly M. Dewey of Cherry county, Nebraska. To this union five children were born: Frances, now Mrs. Frances Piatt, lives at Treynor, Iowa, where her husband is engaged in business. She has three children ; Naomi is a student in the University of Nebraska, where she is specializing in journalism and expert accounting ; three boys, Whitacre, Judah and Max, died in infancy.
After teaching four years the subject of this sketch became interested in news- paper work and gave up a position at fifty dollars a month to go into a newspaper office at six dollars a week. Since his marriage he has been engaged in newspaper work almost continuously. He was in the banking business one year and has had some experience in other lines. January 1, 1918, he took charge of the Harvard Courier as editor and manager, the paper being owned by a corporation. In Feb- ruary, 1919, he was elected secretary and field man of the Nebraska Press Associa- tion and has since devoted almost his entire time to the work of the association, but he still gives general supervision to the Courier and writes the editorial page. A column of paragraphs, under the heading "Buckshot," has gained much more than state wide reputation for the writer. His work for the state association has proven very successful and Nebraska country papers are now more closely organized and are getting more valuable results from their organization than is true of the papers of any other state in the Union.
WILLIAM PEETZKE
William Peetzke is one of the few remaining Civil war veterans and pioneer citizens of Nebraska. Born in Germany of poor parents he came to the new world and as a result of his own diligence and industry is now a wealthy man, retired from active life. He has many friends throughout Hamilton county and his word is as good as a "government bond." to quote his friends.
A native of Germany, William Peetzke was born there in the year 1835 and on the 13th of May, 1861, came to the United States and settled in Oshkosh, Wis- consin. There he obtained farm work, being employed by the month and remained in that connection until on the 13th of March, 1864, when he enlisted in the Union
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army as a member of Company B, Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry. He was in active service until he received his discharge in 1865. He then returned to Wis- consin and remained there until 1873, when he came to Nebraska and located in York county, buying a man's homestead right to one hundred and sixty acres. He engaged in general farming, overcame all of the obstacles of early pioneer life and soon became recognized as one of the most progressive and successful agriculturists in the community. He later bought some railroad land in Hamilton county and operated both farms. As a result of his success in his farming ventures Mr. Peetzke is financially independent and is residing retired in Hampton.
While residing in Wisconsin the marriage of Mr. Peetzke took place, Miss Augusta Zahn becoming his wife. To their union nine children were born, three of whom are living.
Mr. Peetzke is a consistent member of the Lutheran church and is a prominent member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a highly respected and representative citizen of Hampton and is justly entitled to that proud American title of self-made man.
P. J. MAUPIN
Since 1896 P. J. Maupin has engaged in the mercantile business in Stockham. He is one of the leading merchants of that place, giving strict attention to his business and universal satisfaction to his patrons. A native of Missouri he was born in Gasconade county, March 4, 1861, a son of Jacob and Rhoda (Holt) Maupin, both natives of that state. There the father engaged in farming and blacksmithing and was recognized as one of the progressive and substantial citizens of the county in which he made his home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Maupin passed away in the state of their nativity.
P. J. Maupin is indebted to the common schools of Missouri for his education. He remained under the parental roof until he became of age when he went to Texas and from there to Oklahoma, where he obtained work in logging camps. In 1884 he went to Kansas, where he worked on a farm for two years, at the termina- tion of which time he came to Nuckolls county, Nebraska, where he engaged in the same line of work for a time. In 1888 he removed to Hamilton county and worked on the farm of F. M. Wilson for a while, then rented and bached for a couple of years, at the termination of that time going to California and Oregon. Subse- quently in 1894 he returned to Hamilton county and worked on a farm until 1896 when he bought the store of William Stockham and has since that time been actively engaged in the conduct of a merchandise business.
In 1889 occurred the marriage of Mr. Maupin and Miss Berta May Rounds, a native of Iowa, and to them one son, Burtie J., was born. The son is now con- nected with his father in the mercantile business. Mrs. Maupin passed away on the 11th of April, 1891, and four years later Mr. Maupin was again wed, choosing Anna Martin for his wife. In the club and social circles of Stockham Mrs. Maupin is well known. She is also a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and active in all of the charitable interests of that organization.
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In politics Mr. Maupin maintains an independent course, voting for the man without regard for party. He has never had desire for political preferment but devotes his entire time to the development of his business. He has, however, served on the town and school boards. Mr. Maupin is one of the progressive and up-to- date business men of the thriving city of Stockham. His store is known throughout the entire county and his patronage is widely distributed throughout that portion of the state.
H. M. HANSON
H. M. Hanson, engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Sutton, was born in Clay county, June 11, 1880, a son of Nels and Carrie Hanson, both natives of Denmark. Their marriage was celebrated in Sutton, where both had come at an early age. The father went to Illinois at an early date and worked on a farm until 1878 when he came to Nebraska, settling in Clay county. He acquired a homestead on his arrival, whereon he built a sod house in which he resided for a number of years. He later built a frame dwelling. In 1912 he and his wife removed to Sutton and there her death occurred in 1914. Mr Hanson is still making his home there. He has divided his land between his children, but maintains an interest until his death. Five children were born to that union: Mary, who is the wife of Ola Hanson and lives on a farm in Clay county ; H. M., the subject of this review; G. W., who is engaged in the real estate business at Forsyth, Montana; Dora, who is the wife of Roy Johnson and is residing on her father's old homestead; and Anna, who is the wife of A. G. Anderson, a farmer in Clay county. Mr. Hanson has always been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Congregational church.
H. M. Hanson received his education in the country schools of Clay county and for two months attended the Sutton high school. After putting his text- books aside, he engaged in farming, renting land for five years, but in December of the year 1905, he removed to Sutton. He there engaged in the real estate and insurance business in January, 1906, and does both a local and immigration business. His insurance business is of extensive proportions for he handles all kinds of insurance. He still maintains an interest in agriculture, however, own- ing land in Clay and Hayes counties, Nebraska, some in Colorado and property in Lincoln. In all he is in possession of four thousand, four hundred acres of fine land.
On the 30th of June, 1900, Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Miss Sina Holmes, a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a daughter of John A. Holmes, who came to Clay county in 1875 and rented land, later moving to his own farm, but eventually retired and died in Sutton in 1914. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanson nine children have been born: Roy, who graduated in 1920 from the Sutton high school; Alvin, Francis, Leslie, Reuben, Mabel, Merle and Mervin, all in school ; and Ramona. Merle and Mervin are twins.
Mr. Hanson follows an independent course in politics, giving his support to the man rather than to any particular party. Fraternally he is a Knight
H. M. HANSON
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of Pythias and an Odd Fellow and his religious faith is that of the Congre- gational church. For ten years he has been a member of the school board of Sutton and is now a member of the city council. Mr. Hanson was also a member of the township board for a number of terms. He has risen to a high place among the agriculturists and business men of the town and county. He is justly entitled to the proud American title of self-made man, for as a man of strong purpose he has carried to successful completion every undertaking.
SAMUEL FLETCHER
Samuel Fletcher, a retired farmer living at Edgar, Clay county, was born in Canada, November 5, 1849, a son of Samuel and Eliza (Lee) Fletcher, both natives of Ireland, where the father conducted a woolen mill. After fire destroyed his mill he and his wife came to the new world, locating in Canada where the father engaged in farming for eight or nine years. At the end of that time they removed to Illinois, rented land and there resided one year, then moved to Ogle county and died there. Three children were born to that union, two of whom are living : Mrs. Lizzie Page, who is making her home with the subject of this sketch; and Samuel, whose name initiates this review. The other son, Thomas, served in the Civil war from 1862 until its close. Throughout their lives Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the political allegi- ance of Mr. Fletcher was always given to the republican party, in the interests of which he took an active part.
Samuel Fletcher received his education in the schools of Illinois, for the most part attending the Brooklyn school two and one-half miles from his homestead. After putting his textbooks aside he engaged in farming with his father but in 1871 left the parental roof and came to Clay county. He took up a homestead and from the timber secured along Blue river built a frame house, in which he re- sided for seven years. He then sold his homestead and purchased some land in Pope county, where he lived in a sod house for four and one-half years, subsequently he returned to Clay county and has since remained there. He has two hundred and forty acres of valuable land in the county, which he has acquired by his own determined effort.
In 1889 occurred the marriage of Mr. Fletcher and Miss Ella Jones, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Mark Jones, who went to Kansas, where he lived for a number of years. His death occurred on the homestead of his eldest daughter at Nelson, Nebraska. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, nine children have been born: Effie, who is the wife of Claude Hungerford, a store and restaurant man of Grant ; Carl, farming in Clay county ; Clarence, a farmer of Idaho; Grace, the wife of Louie Bolding, operating an orange grove in California; Frank, a farmer of Nelson ; Willard, a painter residing in California, who was in the World war eighteen months and in France the greater part of that time; Bertha, a school teacher of Portland, Oregon ; Lloyd served in the navy from April, 1917, to March 4, 1919, and was on the Cyclops at the time it went down; and Donald, a resident of Santa Ana, California.
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