USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 30
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 30
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association with his fellowmen and honored for his uprightness and his worthy achievement.
Mr. and Mrs. Madsen became the parents of four children: Hannah M .; Hans T .; and Nels P. and Nelcena, both of whom died young. Mr. Madsen's political convictions placed him in the ranks of the republican party and he was an earnest communicant of the Danish Lutheran church, as is also his widow, who is one of the revered pioneer women of Otis township.
JOHN A. ANDERSON
It is only a few decades ago that Hamilton county and all this section of Nebraska was a wild and unimproved district, but into the region came men of enterprise and industry, men who were not afraid of the hard work necessary to the reclamation of the wild land and its conversion into rich and productive farms. To this class belonged John A. Anderson, who for many years was closely associated with farming interests but who is now living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toils. He was born in Sweden, April 7, 1862, and is a son of Andrew and Johanna (Jones) Anderson who were also natives of Sweden where they spent their entire lives, passing away during the boyhood days of the subject of this review. The father was for some time a soldier in the Swedish army and both he and his wife were members of the State church of that country. Their family numbered nine children, of whom only two are living, the surviving daughter being Minnie who is yet a resident of Sweden.
The only representative of the family in the United States is John A. Anderson who obtained a public school education and who, on coming to the new world, settled in Edgar, Clay county, Nebraska, in 1888. He was then a young man of twenty-six years and he believed that he would have better business advantages on this side of the Atlantic and win success more rapidly. He worked as a farm hand for one summer and then rented a farm, thus gaining his start in life. It was in 1894 that he first purchased land but this proved to be a dry season and he gathered practically no crop. In 1896 hail destroyed his crop and thus he suffered various hardships and trials during the early days. He purchased his farm on time, first securing eighty acres and later investing in one hundred and twenty acres of improved land, his original tract being unimproved. He turned the first furrows theron and in course of time transformed the land into productive fields from which he annually gathered a golden harvest. His growing success was indicated by his later purchase and in the course of years he ranked with the sub- stantial and prosperous farmers of the community.
On the 1st of September, 1892, Mr. Anderson was married to L. Freda Larson, who was born in Sweden, October 8, 1868, a daughter of Lars and Marie Peterson who were also natives of Sweden where the father died and where the mother is still living at the age of eighty-eight years. Mrs. Anderson came to the United States in 1889 and settled first in Edgar, Nebraska. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children: Ruth Amelia, who is at home; Oscar Gordon, who was among the first to join the army after America declared war on Germany
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and was with the Coast Artillery in California and Virginia, being honorably dis- charged in December, 1918, with the rank of sergeant; Ada Dorotha, who married Morris W. Snyder of Lincoln, Nebraska, a railroad man on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, who was also with the army and served in France. Following his en- listment he was in camp at Dennison, New Mexico, until sent across; and Earl Amandus, who is living with his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson belong to the Swedish Mission church and are interested in all that pertains to the moral progress and welfare of the city and county. In polities Mr. Anderson maintains an independent course, voting for men and meas- ures rather than parties. In 1916 he sold his farm and removed to Aurora, retiring from active business and erecting here a nice residence at No. 1005 P street. He has since enjoyed a well earned rest and he certainly deserves the prosperity which has come to him as it is the direct outgrowth of unabating industry and energy that never flags.
TOM FAGAN
Among the early pioneers of Hamilton county was Tom Fagan, who came to that county in 1873 and secured a homestead. He has since resided in Hamilton county and has become one of the successful, progressive and leading agriculturists of the community. He was born in Ireland in 1847 and at the age of twenty-three years came to the United States. He first located in New York state and there remained for three years, being employed by the day and saving a little money. In 1873, realizing that bigger opportunities were being offered in the west, he came to Nebraska and located in Hamilton county, where he homesteaded eiglity acres. The trip as far as Lincoln he made by way of train but on reaching that town purchased a team and drove overland to his homestead. He had been in his new home but a few days when the Easter blizzard struck the country and he was snowed in for several days. His first dwelling was of sod and he used oxen to break his land. Wild geese and antelopes were plentiful in the vicinity of his home and many Indians passed through his land on their spring and fall hunting trips. Mr. Fagan experienced all of the pioneer hardships but allowed no obstacle, however great, to remain long in his path. Bradshaw was the nearest place to trade at that time and the storekeeper brought out his supplies from Lincoln with mule teams. The country was indeed but sparsely settled and Aurora, one of the nearest settlements, had then but two sod houses. Prairie fires, several of which Mr. Fagan passed through, were most feared by the pioneers and the grasshopper storms brought about total destruction of crops. The first corn crop of Mr. Fagan was destroyed in that manner. Although he had but twenty-five dollars when he first came to Hamilton county, Mr. Fagan has through his own efforts become financially independent, but still maintains an active interest in farm life. As his original eighty acres of land was brought to a high cultivation, he purchased more land and he now owns five hundred and twenty acres in section 9, Valley township, on which stand four sets of buildings.
In 1878 Mr. Fagan was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Butler, a native of
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Ohio, their marriage being celebrated in Crete, Nebraska. To them seven children have been born: James, who passed away at the age of thirty-five years; Anna; Alice; Edward; Florence; George; and Emma.
Although Mr. Fagan is now seventy-three years of age he is well preserved and active in the agricultural and civic affairs of the community. He is widely known as a successful and progressive farmer and is one of the few pioneer residents of the county now living.
FESTUS VAN DEUSEN
In the early '70s, within a few years after the admission of Nebraska to state- hood, the new commonwealth gained a sterling pioneer in the person of the late Festus Van Deusen, who came with his family to Hamilton county, sustained by high courage and a determination to gain from the prairie soil a tribute that eventually should lead to his independence and substantial prosperity. He and his wife met with fortitude the varied tribulations and hardships that fell to the lot of the early settlers thronghont this section, proved themselves masters in conforming to the primitive conditions, and thus were not baffled by their losses through droughts, grasshopper scourges, etc., but made the best of adverse as well as favorable conditions, and as the years passed they found their efforts crowned with success. Mr. Van Deusen was one of the venerable and honored pioneer citizens of Hamilton county at the time of his death, in 1919, he having passed away at the age of eighty-five years. Ile was born and reared in the state of New York, where the common schools enlisted a due share of his youthful attention and he was a youth when he made his way to Wisconsin. The voyage was made by way of the Great Lakes, and in the shipwrecking of the vessel on which he and his parents had taken passage, the family lost the greater part of their material possessions. Mr. Van Deusen became a vigorous exponent of farm enterprise in the Badger state, where his marriage occurred and from there he came to Nebraska in the early '70s, by means of a team and covered wagon, bringing with him a cow, the leisurely movements of which did not tend to hasten the progress of the long overland journey. Upon arriving in Hamilton county, Mr. Van Deusen took np a homestead of eighty acres, in Union precinct, and here the first habita- tion of the family was a dugout of the type common to that period. The Van Deusen family endured its full share of vicissitudes and privations, but the home- stead gradually began to assume the appearance of a well ordered farm, and with the general development of the country the adverse conditions were overcome and the faith of the pioneers justified. Eventually Mr. Van Deusen sold his original homestead, on which he had made good improvements, including the planting of an orchard and other trees, and purchased and brought to a high standard the farm of eighty acres which still continues in the possession of his widow. He was a stanch republican and was a man of broad views and intense civic loyalty, the while his sterling character gained and retained to him unqualified popular con- fidence and respect.
In Wisconsin occurred the marriage of Mr. Van Deusen to Miss Ellen Gordon, who was born in Virginia and who accompanied her parents to Wisconsin in the
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MR. AND MRS. FESTUS VAN DEUSEN
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pioneer period of the history of that state. She is now in advanced years and with friends on every side maintains her home in the village of Stockham, where she finds the pleasing conditions and associations that fully compensate for the pioneer trials and perplexities that fell to her lot. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Van Deusen the eldest, Amos, is a resident of Illinois; George is a prosperons farmer near Mullen, Hooker county, Nebraska; Thomas resides at Stockham, Hamilton county; Oscar lives at Giltner, this county ; Frank lives at Stockham; Lucinda is the wife of John Beacom, a substantial farmer of Hamil- ton county; Anna is the wife of J. Ready of Stockham; and Ida is the wife of Grant Evans of Aurora.
FRED B. HOWARD
The value of the local newspapers in the upbuilding of the best interests of any community is universally conceded. The rule is that good papers are found in good towns, inferior journals in towns of stunted growth and uncertain future. It is not so much a matter of size and of excellence as adaptability to the needs of the locality in which it is established. The Clay County Sun, which Fred B. Howard of Clay Center is the owner and editor, has an excellent circulation and is a leader in the work of progress and improvement in the county. For the past ten years Mr. Howard has been active in his present connection and his friends are man- ifold. Starting from the printing trade he has progressed in orderly manner through every phase of the newspaper business until he now heads an organization of his own. In Harvard he received his first newspaper training, entering the printing office of a paper there, and after that time he worked on different metropolitan papers. As a citizen he is no unthinking "booster," but is at all times a supporter of Clay Center's best interests and the steady growth of that place is due to such men
EDWIN HUENEFELD
Edwin Huenefeld, who is successfully engaged in stock raising in Aurora town- ship, has spent his entire life in Hamilton county, his birth occurring there Novem- ber 25, 1886. He is a son of Carl F. and Elizabeth (Bald) Huenefeld, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. After attending the common schools he entered a Nebraska agricultural college and thus became well qualified for the occupation to which he now gives his attention. Since 1911 he has had charge of his father's farm and is today specializing in the feeding of hogs, sheep and cattle, winning for himself a high place among the stockmen of Hamilton county.
Mr. Huenefeld was married in July, 1917, to Miss Rissie Eggert, who today is a prominent woman in the community, taking an active part in clubs and social affairs.
In addition to his stock raising interests Mr. Huenefeld is identified with the
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cooperative elevators at Aurora and Giltner, and also with the cooperative stores of those towns. He has been president of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau since its organization in 1918 and fraternally is identified with the Masons, having taken the master's degree. He is a consistent member of the United Brethren church and has served as president of the State Christian Endeavor Union of that church for two years. He is today recognized as one of the representative citizens and stockmen of his community.
JOHN NICKALSON
Since 1879 John Nickalson has been a resident of Hamilton county and since 1908 of Hordville, where he is now enjoying a life of retirement. A native of Sweden, he was born in that country in 1848 and when twenty years of age came to the United States. He obtained work in Pennsylvania, where he remained for a short time and then removed to California, subsequently locating in Hamilton county, Nebraska, in 1879. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres of railroad land, part of it under cultivation and thereon built a small frame house. When he landed in the United States John Nickalson was without funds, but he was deter- mined to succeed, and succeed he did. His ability as a farmer soon asserted itself and today he is in possession of three hundred acres of well improved farm land. After the death of his wife Mr. Nickalson removed to Hordville and retired from active farm life in 1908. He takes an active interest in the development and improvement of the community in which he resides and is readily acknowledged a representative citizen.
In 1867 occurred the marriage of Mr. Nickalson and Miss Nellie Bengtson, and to them ten children were born, five living in Hamilton county and one in Merrick county. In 1913 the death of Mrs. Nickalson occurred and was an occasion of deep grief to her many friends throughout the community. She was a consistent member of the Lutheran church for years.
Mr. Nickalson is now. enjoying the reward that comes from many years of diligence and industry. His sons are managing the farm, although as a true agricul- turist he maintains a great interest in it. Mr. Nickalson has proved himself to be the highest type of American citizen and as such has won the respect and good- will of his fellowmen.
GRIFFITH J. THOMAS
Griffith J. Thomas is now living retired in Harvard after long and active con- nection with newspaper interests here and with public affairs. He has ever been recognized as a substantial citizen whose aid is on the side of progress and improve- ment at all times. Mr. Thomas was born near Harlech, Wales, on the 20th of January, 1847, so that he has now passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey. His parents were John G. and Mary (Williams) Thomas, who emigrated
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to America in 1851, settling at Remsen, New York, not far from Utica, remaining here until they went to Frankfort Hill, in Herkimer county, where Mrs. Thomas passed away in April, 1854. In September of the following year the father and son removed to Wisconsin, taking up their abode at Berlin in Green Lake county, where Griffith J. Thomas was reared to manhood. There his father passed away in 1900, at the venerable age of eighty-eight years.
G. J. Thomas attended school in Green Lake county until 1859 and then, putting aside his textbooks, concentrated his efforts and attention upon farm work, save for about three months in the winter season when he again had the opportunity of attending school. He continued to follow farming until August 20, 1862, when at the age of fifteen years he enlisted as a drummer in Company C, Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for a month, but failed to pass muster because of his youth and size. Being barred from active military duty he then entered the office of the Berlin (Wis.) Courant to learn the printing trade, at which he worked until July 27, 1863. He then went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and enlisted as a drummer in Company B, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, with which he served until the close of the war, thus realizing his hope of aiding the country in the preservation of the Union. He was mustered out at Madison, Wis- consin, September 4, 1865, and in April of the following year entered the revenue marine service as quartermaster on board the revenue cutter John A. Dix, stationed at Detroit, Michigan, and cruising on Lake Superior. Mr. Thomas was assigned to duty at Detroit as ship keeper during the winter and on the 1st of April following was discharged at his own request that he might return home and complete his trade of printing. He remained with the Berlin Courant as devil, foreman and for two years as managing editor and then in 1876 resigned his position, having been elected to the office of city clerk. On the 1st of May, 1877, Mr. Thomas was appointed postmaster of Berlin, Wisconsin, by President Hayes and entered upon the duties of that position, in which he continued as the incumbent until August, 1886, having in the meantime been reappointed to the office. He was then released at his own request on account of ill health.
Mr. Thomas had become identified with the Grand Army of the Republic imme- diately after his retirement from the revenue service and has been an active member of the organization since. He served as adjutant of his post in Berlin, Wisconsin, for six years and held numerous department offices, having also the honor of serving the department of Wisconsin as commander from 1879 until 1881 inclusive. He was likewise an early member of the Knights of Pythias, becoming a representative of that order in 1871. He served as keeper of the records and seal in his local lodge for seven years and was recorder of the Temple of Honor. He is likewise a member of the Masonic lodge and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
On the 1st of November, 1874, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Anna E. Griffith, a native of Utica, New York, and to them have been born two sons: George Henry, a prominent banker of Harvard; and Harrie Griffith, who is assistant cashier of the Union State Bank of Harvard.
It was in October, 1886, that Mr. Thomas came to Harvard on account of his health. He had previously purchased a farm in this section of the state and for two years resided thereon, life in the open proving greatly beneficial to him, but in the fall of 1888 he removed his family to Harvard in order to give his sons the advan-
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tage of the city schools. In 1889 he purchased the Harvard Courier, which he edited and published until February, 1898, when he entered upon his duties as postmaster and his younger son took over the paper. Mr. Thomas became actively interested in the development of the city and has figured prominently in connection with public affairs. He was chosen city clerk in 1893 to fill a vacancy and the same year was elected a member of the board of education, serving as its secretary until 1896. The cause of education found in him a stalwart friend and his aid and cooperation can at all times be counted upon as factors in general progress and improvement. He has been continuously in some position of public trust and at all times has been active in the Grand Army of the Republic and the Knights of Pythias. He is still secretary of the Masonic lodge, after filling that position for twenty-seven years. On the 16th of February, 1898, he received from President Mckinley appointment to the position of postmaster of Harvard and served until August 15, 1915. He still assists in the post office to some extent, although he is now practically living a retired life. He is recognized as one of the prominent and influential residents of Harvard, highly respected by all who know him. He and his wife attend the Congregational church, are members of the order of the Eastern Star, and take helpful interest in many plans for the extension of the church work. Mr. Thomas was a member of the Soldiers Relief Committee for a number of years and he served on the school redistricting committee. In a word, when any helpful public project is to be carried forward the cooperation and aid of Mr. Thomas are sought and are always freely given, making his life one of great worth and value to the community in which he lives.
REV. L. A. DUNPHY
Since 1904 Rev. Father L. A. Dunphy has been in charge of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Sutton. His strong personality, fine character and ability have won him many friends throughout the community and the membership of his church so increased that it was necessary to build a larger and more modern church, this structure being completed in 1907. Father Dunphy was born in County Queens, Ireland, in 1857, a son of Thomas and Margaret (Moore) Dunphy, both natives of that country, in which they resided until death. The father was a successful farmer and a well known member of the community in which he made his home. Thirteen children were born to that union, six of whom are living. Father Dunphy has one brother and one sister residing in New York state but the remainder of the family are still in Ireland. The paternal grandfather of our subject was William Dunphy and the maternal grandfather Laurence Moore, both respected and progressive citizens of their various communities.
Father Dunphy received his education in the local schools of his native county and in due time entered St. Patrick's Monastery at Mountrath. In 1883 he was ordained and had charge of a church in Canada from 1883 until 1887. In the latter part of that year he came to Nebraska, and for one and one-half years was assistant to Bishop Bonacum in Lincoln. The next four years he was in charge of a church at Colon and was in Aurora from 1893 until 1897. From 1897 to 1904 he
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served in Doniphan and in the latter part of 1904 went to Sutton. He has since been in charge of the Church of the Immaculate Conception there and administers to the moral welfare of sixty-five families. The old church soon proved to be too small to take care of Father Dunphy's congregation and in 1907 a handsome new building was erected.
The popularity of Father Dunphy extends over the greater part of the com- munity and he is considered one of its most representative and valuable citizens. He is well known in fraternal circles as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He has devoted his entire life to his church and to the moral strengthening and development of his fellowmen.
GEORGE A. HERZOG
George A. Herzog, postmaster of Harvard, was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 12, 1850, and his youthful days were spent on the home farm to the age of sixteen years, when he came to America, attracted by the opportunities of the new world. From 1867 until 1874 he resided near Buffalo, New York, where he was employed at farm labor, and in the fall of 1874 he came to Clay county, Nebraska, casting in his lot with the early settlers. For forty-seven years he has remained a resident of this section of the state and has witnessed the marvelous growth, settle- ment and development of the region. He first took up an eighty-acre homestead in Leicester township and with characteristic energy began tilling the soil and develop- ing the fields, remaining on that place until 1883, when he removed to Harvard. Here he was first employed by an implement dealer for a year and later he turned his attention to the insurance business, which he followed for a number of years, gaining a good clientage in that connection and having one of the successful insurance agencies of this part of the state. He was called to the position of post- master under appointment from President Cleveland and continued to serve during a part of the Mckinley administration, filling the office for five years. He was again made postmaster in August, 1915, to succeed Griffith J. Thomas and is the present incumbent in the position. He is most systematic and careful in all the work of the office and has made an excellent official. As the years have passed he has also prospered in his business affairs. He sold the old homestead in 1905 and bought land in North and South Dakota, and still owns four hundred acres there, besides which he owns some good business properties in Harvard, including the hotel. He began life empty-handed and whatever he has achieved and enjoyed is attributable to his own efforts. He was one of a family of twelve children born to George A. and Margaret (Rife) Herzog, who spent their entire lives in Germany, but nine of their children came to America and here found excellent opportunities, which they have improved. Making good use of his time and of the chances which have come to him, George A. Herzog has steadily advanced toward the goal of success and is now one of the substantial residents of Clay county.
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