USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 35
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 35
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During his life Mr. Peterson has seen the county wherein he now resides grow from a wild and uncultivated state to a county of flourishing towns and comfortable homes. He is still hale and hearty at the age of seventy-seven years and is widely recognized as a representative citizen of Aurora and Hamilton county.
ABRAHAM W. POTTS
As a young man Abraham W. Potts gave long and effective service as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war and in times of peace his loyalty and self-reliant spirit have been equally in evidence. These qualities came effectively into play in his en- durance of the responsibilities and trials of pioneer life in Nebraska and today he is one of the venerable and honored pioneer citizens of Hamilton county, where he is living in peace and prosperity, with an attractive home in the village of Stockham and with inviolable place in popular esteem.
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Mr. Potts was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of Sep- tember, 1841, and is a son of George and Susan (Bigler) Potts, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father became a prosperous farmer in Ohio, but passed away when his son Abraham was but two years of age.
In addition to receiving the advantages of the rural schools Abraham W. Potts prosecuted his studies for a time in Elder's Ridge Academy, in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He was not yet twenty years of age when the Civil war was pre- cipitated on the nation, but his youthful patriotism was promptly shown by his response to the first call for volunteers. Thus it was that early in the year 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for a term of three years, this having been the fifth regiment for three-year service to be organized in and sent to the front from Ohio. At the expiration of his term Mr. Potts re-enlisted, this time as a member of Company G, Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry and thus his service covered virtually the entire period of the war. At Rockford, Missouri, Mr. Potts was captured by the enemy, but was shortly afterward paroled. He participated in many of the important engagements marking the progress of the great conflict, including the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill and Cain River and the Red River expedition. After the capture of Vicksburg he accompanied his regiment to the Gulf of Mexico, with General Grant's original Thirteenth Corps and was mustered out at New Orleans, Louisiana, in May, 1866, his honorable discharge having been granted him at Columbus, Ohio. In the Buckeye state he purchased land and engaged in farming and there also he devoted six years to work at the carpenter's and engineering trade. He continued his residence in Ohio until 1872, when, with an equipment of two teams and two covered wagons, he set forth to initiate his pioneer experience in Hamilton county, Nebraska. The overland journey was completed in six weeks and upon his arrival he entered claim to a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, in Beaver township. The virgin prairie soil challenged his most vigorous efforts, but it was necessary first to provide a home for his family. His skill as a carpenter came into play at this juncture, for he hauled lumber from Sutton and erected on his land a small frame house, the first stable having been of the straw type common to the locality and period. He broke his land and made it available for crop production, besides which he planted a grove of trees and also a large orchard. While he suffered his share of loss through drouth and grasshoppers, the passing years rewarded his labors with ever increasing prosperity and eventually he became the owner of a valuable farm property of three hundred and sixty acres. In the early days he obtained fuel from trees along a neighboring creek and took his grain to Beaver Crossing to be .ground, this trip requiring three days. Wild game was still in evidence and Mr. Potts reverts with satisfaction to the fact that his trusty rifle brought down one deer before these animals had entirely disappeared from this part of the state. He made the best of improvements on his farm, which he fenced at an earlier day than did the average settler, and here he continued his successful farm enterprise until 1893, when he retired from the farm. Four years later he removed to Kansas, where he remained eleven years and upon his return to Hamilton county he established his home at Stockham, where he has since lived retired. In the historic Easter blizzard of the early days Mr. Potts was
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caught in the storm while driving across country, but he managed to find the home of another settler, where he received shelter for himself and his team and there remained snowbound for three days. Mr. Potts has ever stood ready to lend his influence and aid in the furtherance of measures projected for the general good of the community, but has had no desire for public office. In politics he maintains an independent attitude and in a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic:
In Ohio was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Potts to Miss Ruhama Sykes, who was born and reared in that state and who died in 1876, at the age of thirty-two years. Of the children of this union two are living: Minerva is the wife of Milton Wirts, of Great Falls, Montana; and Hattie is the widow of George Rogers and resides at Stockham, Nebraska. The second marriage of Mr. Potts was with Miss Harriet White, who has been his true helpmeet and devoted companion and who has become the mother of two children, the elder of whom, Luella, is the wife of Edward Swanson of Burley, Idaho; and the younger, Edna, is the wife of J. H. Dann, of Omaha, Nebraska.
HERMAN BREITENFELDT
Herman Breitenfeldt, a sterling citizen and representative farmer of Hamilton county, was reared and educated in Germany, where he was born in the year 1848, and he was an ambitious and self-reliant youth of eighteen years when he left his native land and voyaged across the Atlantic to the United States, the trip having been made on a sailing vessel and seven weeks and three days having passed ere he landed on the shores of the United States. From the national metropolis he soon made his way to Wisconsin, where he found employment and later removed to Minnesota. It was from the latter state that he came to Nebraska in 1874 and numbered himself among the pioneer settlers of Hamilton county. Here he bought for five dollars per acre a tract of eighty acres of unbroken prairie land, and in the sod house which he constructed on this embryonic farm he and his wife and their one child found shelter. They endured the hardships entailed by loss of crops through grasshoppers and, droughts, bravely met the deprivations which the isolated location and primitive surroundings entailed in the early pioneer days, labored earnestly and indefatigably to develop and improve their land, and in due time generous rewards came to them, as shown in the fact that today Mr. Breiten- feldt is the owner of a well improved landed estate of one thousand acres and is one of the leading exponents of agricultural and live stock industry in Hamilton county, where he and his wife are honored pioneers whose circle of friends is limited only by that of their acquaintances. The religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church.
As a young man Mr. Breitenfeldt married Miss Bertha Hipka, and of the ten children of this union six are deceased; Cora is the wife of Frank Keller; Ida is the wife of August Hoppell; and Frank and Edward have assumed much of the active work and management of their father's extensive farm property. On the original tract which he obtained when he first came to the county Mr. Breitenfeldt
HERMAN BREITENFELDT
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has maintained his home during the intervening years and the fine buildings and other permanent improvements mark this as one of the model farms of Scoville township, where it is situated in section 9, the home receiving service on one of the rural mail routes from the village of Doniphan.
S. E. HEINZMAN
Prominent in the agricultural circles of Hamilton county, Nebraska, is S. E. Heinzman, who is a native of this state in which his birth occurred at Friend on the 9th of April, 1889, a son of Fred and Cora (Wintermute) Heinzman, the former a native of Illinois and the latter a native of Iowa. About 1882 or 1883 Fred Heinzman came to Nebraska and purchased eighty acres of railroad land upon which he erected a small frame house. There he resided until he removed to York county where the death of his wife occurred. In 1903 he came to Hamilton county, where he bought a half section of land and put many good improvements on the place. Some time later he retired from active farm life and moved to Long Beach, California, where he lives with two daughters, Winona and Wilma. He is a stanch supporter of the democratic party and both he and daughters are consistent members of the Christian church.
S. E. Heinzman received a good common school education and in due time entered the York Business College where he completed a commercial course in the required time. After putting his textbooks aside he started working on the farms of the vicinity by the month and later determining to engage in farming on his own account, rented some land near Friend on which he remained five years. He then moved onto his father's old farm in Hamilton county, consisting of four hundred acres of fine improved land and there he is now residing doing general farming, raising a good grade of live stock and feeding the markets.
In 1911 occurred the marriage of Mr. Heinzman and Miss Maude E. Gish, a native of Kansas. To this union three children have been born: Doris and Beatrice, both at home and Dale, a son.
Fraternally Mr. Heinzman is a member of the Masons in which order he has reached the fourteenth degree and he is likewise a member of the Eastern Star of which his wife is also a member. Having lived in Nebraska during his entire life Mr. Heinzman has made many friends who appreciate his true personal worth and many sterling traits of character. In agricultural circles he takes an important part and is recognized as one of the most successful and progressive ranchmen in Hamilton county.
EDWARD SCHUCK
Edward Schuck, who since 1918 has been engaged in the lumber and coal busi- ness in Harvard and who is prominently connected with public affairs of the com- munity, was born near Inland, Nebraska, October 11, 1886, a son of Charles and Augusta J. (Fitzke) Schuck, both of whom were natives of Germany. Coming to
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America in early life, however, they were married in Clay county, Nebraska, where they had made their home from childhood. The father purchased railroad land and transformed it into a rich and productive farm, which he continued to make his home until his demise. His widow has since taken up her abode in Harvard, where she now resides. Mr. Schuck was the owner of a half section of valuable and pro- ductive land, notwithstanding the fact that he started out in the business world empty-handed-a fact which indicates the splendid opportunities America offers to her native sons and those of her adoption. He was in the county from early pioneer times, residing here during the memorable Easter storm of 1873, when a great bliz- zard raged and snow lay upon the ground to the depth of more than a foot. In community affairs Mr. Schuck took a helpful interest and was a stalwart advocate of democratic principles. He filled the office of county supervisor in an early day and was also at one time town assessor. Fraternally he was connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and belonged to the German Congregational church.
Edward Schuck, whose name introduces this review, was the fifth in order of birth in a family of ten children. His early educational opportunities were supple- mented by study in the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and also in Hastings College. When his textbooks were put aside he concentrated his efforts and atten- tion upon the work of the home farm and for a time was also engaged in the lumber business in Colorado. He likewise established a lumber-yard at Milford on his own account in 1915. He first took up his abode in Harvard in 1905 and in 1918 became identified with its commercial interests as a dealer in lumber and coal. He sells all kinds of building materials and has built up a very gratifying patronage, developing his business in a most progressive way, so that substantial results acerne.
In 1915 Mr. Schuck was married to Miss Mabel E. Swake, a native of Lincoln, Nebraska, and to them have been born two children: Lorraine Louise, four years of age ; and Edward, Jr., a little lad of two summers. The parents have member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church at Lincoln and Mr. Schmuck is a Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine. In politics he maintains an inde- pendent course, preferring to remain free to support men and measures without regard to party affiliations. He is now serving as a member of the city board of Harvard, as a member of the school board and on the executive board of the Community Club. He is likewise justice of the peace and in that office renders decisions which are strictly fair and impartial. His cooperation at all times is given to projects that are worthy the support of fair-minded and progressive citizens.
DAVID PICKARD
A pioneer settler of Clay county is David Pickard, who is now residing in Sut- ton, retired, at the age of eighty-nine years. A native of New York state, his birth occurred there January 28, 1832, a son of Jacob and Sybil (Lewis) Pickard, the foriner a native of Germany and the latter of Massachusetts. Their marriage occurred in New York and in that state they resided until death. Seven children
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were born to that union, David, whose name initiates this review, being the only one living.
David Pickard obtained his education in the state of New York and in 1857 removed to Illinois. In 1862 he entered the Union army from that state, enlisting in Company K, Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated in many of the important battles of the war and was captured at Guntown, Mississippi, and sent as a prisoner to Alabama. After the war he returned to Illinois and worked at the carpenter trade there until 1878, when he came to Clay county. He was then employed at farm work for some ten or twelve years, saving up enough to purchase eighty acres of railroad land in Fillmore county, upon which he built a small frame house. For twelve years he resided on this land and in 1891 removed to Sutton, where he again followed his trade as carpenter. He continued in that line of business until he was seventy-five years of age and then retired. Since coming to Clay county he has made many and stanch friends and he is readily acknowledged a representative citizen of Sutton.
In 1867 Mr. Pickard was married to Miss Elnora Stockwell, their marriage taking place in Illinois. To them two children were born: Marines, who is engaged in the carpenter business in Sutton; and William, who is employed at the cement works in Sutton. Mrs. Pickard passed away in 1886, her death coming as a severe shock to her many friends.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Pickard the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party, in the interests of which he has taken an active part. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church, while his wife was a consistent member of the Christian church. Fraternally he is an Ancient Free and Accepted Mason and a Royal Arch Mason, being past master and past high priest. Mr. Pickard owns his property in Sutton and as a result of industry and energy of former years is enabled to enjoy a well earned rest without further recourse to labor. He is a member of the G. A. R., George E. Meade Post, of Sutton.
DANIEL A. SCOVILL
When on the 4th of April, 1903, Daniel A. Scovill passed away death removed one of the valued, substantial and honored citizens of Hamilton county. In many ways he had been associated with the development and progress of this section of the state. He had aided in framing the laws of Nebraska as a member of the general assembly, had been commandant of the soldier's home and had been connected with various business interests. His birth occurred in Stephenson county, Illinois, near Freeport, June 6, 1841, his parents being Herman R. and Julia A. (Rogers) Scovill, both of whom were born near Catskill, New York. The father was a son of Amasa Scovill, a soldier of the war of 1812 who enlisted from the state of New York. His father was a native of France and came to the new world with Marquis de Lafayette, serving under that distinguished French general 'in the war for American independence. He determined to remain in the new world and afterward settled on a farm near Catskill, New York, where he spent his remaining days. The name was originally DeScovill and the family was
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noted for longevity. In the maternal line Daniel A. Scovill was a descendant from one of the old families of New England. His mother, who in her maiden- hood was Julia A. Rogers, was a native of the Empire state and a daughter of Daniel Rogers who was born in New Hampshire and whose family was founded in the new world prior to the Revolutionary war. It was about 1839 that Herman B. Scovill with his wife and daughter removed to what was then the far west, taking up their abode on a farm near Freeport, Illinois.
On the old homestead in Stephenson county D. A. Scovill was reared, early be- coming acquainted with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. Following the outbreak of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and joined the army, feeling that his first duty was to his country. It was in September, 1861, that he became one of the boys in blue of Company A, Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, rendering valuable and honorable service to his country until March 28, 1866, when he returned to his Illinois home with a most creditable military record. He was wounded twice while in the service, sustaining a gunshot wound in the leg while participating in the battle of Shiloh and at Champion Hill his ankle was broken by a fragment of shell. During the entire period of the war he was absent from active duty for only three months, which was spent in the Field Hospital in front of Vicksburg. He joined the army as a private and became first sergeant. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, the second battle of Iuka, the second battle of Corinth, Champion Hill, the siege and capture of Vicksburg, the battle of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Nashville, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and Mobile.
It was after his return from the army that Mr. Scovill in 1868 became a student in Mount Morris Seminary where he spent two collegiate years and the following year came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, settling in the precinct which now bears his name. He was one of the first of the pioneer residents of the district and there took up the occupation of farming. In 1875 he removed to Aurora and served for a time as deputy sheriff. In 1876 he was elected county sheriff and filled the position for two years. For a time he was engaged in the implement business and later took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar, after which he continued in the practice of his profession until his death.
At various periods Mr. Scovill was called upon to serve in public office. He filled the position of state senator for two years and in 1889 was elected to represent his district in the lower house of the general assembly. Throughout these periods he gave most careful consideration to the vital questions which came up for set- tlement and left the impress of his individuality for good upon the legislative record of the state.
Mr. Scovill was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Wheeler, a native of New York, and they became the parents of eight children, six. of whom are living: Edith, the wife of C. F. Brown who is employed on the Union Pacific at Grand Island; Effie A., the wife of J. E. Lyle, county clerk of Hall county, and a resident of Grand Island; C. R., mentioned elsewhere in this work; Frank L., a teller in the Commercial Bank of Grand Island; Vera M., the wife of Henry Carlson, a farmer of Hamilton county ; and Max L., who is a bank employe in Grand Island.
Mr. Scovill was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, guiding his life according to its teachings. He also belonged to Chandler Post, No. 34, G.
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A. R., in which he held all the offices and became past commander. He was likewise commandant of the Soldiers' Home at Grand Island for two years. His political allegiance was at all times given to the republican party, for he was a very firm believer in its principles. He was a member of the old settlers' association and in many ways was connected with the interests of Hamilton county. His widow is still living, making her home in Grand Island at the age of sixty-eight years. The county acknowledges its indebtedness to Daniel A. Scovill in many ways. As one of the earliest settlers he aided in laying broad and deep the founda- tion upon which has been built the present progress and prosperity of the county. He aided in shaping the history of the state as one of its legislators and in various ways contributed to public improvement and advancement, so that his name should be placed high upon the roll of Nebraska's honored pioneers.
PETER HEDBLOM
Peter Hedblom was one of the pioneers of Hamilton county. He was born in Henninge, Skog county, Sweden, April 3, 1841, and had therefore attained the age of seventy-eight years when he passed away on April 1, 1919. He was educated in the common schools of his native country, there spending the period of his boyhood and youth.
When twenty-four years of age he came to the United States, landing in New York, August 6, 1865. He made his way to Illinois and shortly afterwards to Iowa, where for four years he was chiefly employed in railroad bridge construction. In April, 1869, he married Miss Maria S. Johnson. They established their first home on a farm near Dayton, Iowa, and seven of their nine children were born there. Those living are Mrs. L. F. Stowell; Mrs. Henry Olson ; Ida, Emma, Selma, and Anna, who are living in or near Aurora; Carl A., of Rochester, Minnesota ; and Edward, now living in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Attracted by the promise of greater opportunities further west he visited Hamil- ton county in 1879 and bonght land there at that time not far from a country blacksmith shop, around which later grew the town of Marquette. In February, 1882, he came with his family and began to build a home and develop a farm. From that time he was actively identified with the farming interests of the community and state. Prospering as the years passed he became the owner of a half section of valuable land in Hamilton county, his farm being the visible evidence of well- directed energy and thrift.
In 1901 he retired from active farming and then came to Aurora, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He built a fine modern residence there and also acquired other city property. Being converted in 1867, he joined the Swedish Mission church in which he was an earnest, constructive worker. Nothing con- cerned him so vitally as the growth of the church and the extension of its influence. In politics he was a republican but was not a stand-patter when there was a ques- tion of individual worth. He believed in and worked for the principles of prohibi- tion and was in every particular a loyal American citizen.
In a personal sense he was alert and progressive, a leader rather than a fol-
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lower. He was ever a fearless, uneompromising, outspoken champion of truth as he saw it. He retained his mental and spiritual vigor in a remarkable degree to the last. His departure brought a sense of bereavement into many homes where his friendship was cherished.
ED HILLIGAS
It was no minor distinction that may be claimed by Ed Hilligas in connection with the annals of Hamilton county, for he is a native son of this county and a representative of one of its sterling pioneer families, his parents having here es- tablished their home nearly half a century ago, when this now opulent section of Nebraska was little more than a prairie wilderness.
Mr. Hilligas, who is now living retired in the village of Marquette but who still retains ownership of his valuable farm property, was born in Otis township, this county, on the 13th of July, 1880, and is a son of Francis M. and Barbara (Brown) Hilligas, natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana, who were married in Clay county, Indiana. Francis M. Hilligas was a boy at the time of his parents' removal to Indiana, where he was reared on a farm and received the advantages of the common schools. His parents passed the remainder of their lives in that state. The mother was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, and was a child when, in 1848, her parents immigrated to America and established their home in Indiana, the voyage aeross the Atlantic having been made on an old-time sailing vessel.
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