USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 50
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 50
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MONMOUTH BRODRICK
Monmouth Brodrick owns three sections of land in Clay county and has been for many years one of the leading agriculturists of the county. He was born in Lodi, Seneca county, New York, August 31, 1846, a son of Arthur and Eliza (Hall) Brodrick, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of J. E. Brodrick to be found on another page of this work.
In the acquirement of an education Monmouth Brodrick attended the district schools of New York until he was sixteen years of age, at which time he put his textbooks aside and engaged in farming. In the spring of 1870 he removed to Lee county, Illinois, and for two months worked on a farm there and then left for Cedar county, Iowa, where he engaged in like work until March of 1872. At that time he came to Nebraska as a member of a prairie schooner train and settled in Clay county, where he homesteaded eighty acres near Fairfield and took a preemption of one hundred and sixty acres. He built a little frame shanty on this land and devoted all of his energy and attention to the cultivation of his farm.
On the 1st of April, 1873, Mr. Brodrick was united in marriage to Miss Cath- erine Palmer, further mention of her family being made in the sketch of her brother, John, to be found on another page of this work. Three children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brodrick: John, who is married, lives on his father's farm and has three children: Catherine, Earl and Alice; Edith, who is the wife of William Lamby, a farmer near St. Joseph, Missouri, and the mother of two chil- dren : Monmouth and Wallace; and Carl, who is residing on his father's old preemption and has two children: Bryce and Ronald.
Mr. Brodrick has always given his allegiance to the republican party, in the interests of which he has taken an active part. He was a member of the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh Nebraska legislatures, being chairman of the agricultural com- mittee the first term and of the committee on public schools the second term. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Brodrick started life in Nebraska with but a few hundred dollars but so managed his affairs as to become financially comfortable. He now has three sections of land highly cultivated and well improved. He has handled considerable stock and in this connection has also become well known throughout the county. Mr. Brodrick has been a successful man and his success is
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the result of his own determined effort. Always able, persistent and strong of purpose, his salient characteristics are such as have gained for him the confidence and respect of all who know him.
A. G. SIMS
A goodly proportion of the population of Aurora is made up of men who were formerly active along agricultural lines and whose well won success now enables them to enjoy life without further recourse to labor. To this class belongs A. G. Sims, who is truly a self-made man inasmuch as energy and diligence have constituted the broad foundation upon which he has built his prosperity. His life record began in Ogle county, Illinois, March 21, 1853, his parents being Daniel and Christina (Bunton) Sims, the former a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in Scotland. Their marriage was celebrated in Illinois, where they took up their abode in an early day and by way of the Great Lakes they journeyed to Chicago and thence drove overland to Ogle county. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sims lived in Illinois until called to their final rest. The father obtained one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, paying the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. The tract was in the midst of the forest and he cleared away the trees, built a house and converted the hitherto wild land into rich and productive fields from which he gathered many a golden harvest. His business affairs were wisely and carefully conducted and thus he obtained gratifying success. His political endorsement was always given to the republican party from the time of its organization and his religious belief was that of the Presbyterian church, his Christian faith shaping his life in all of its relations. To him and his wife were born eleven children, five of whom are living: Mary, a resident of Rockford, Illinois; Henry, a retired farmer of Aurora ; David, who owns and culti- vates a farm in Hamilton county; A. G., of this review; and Daniel, who lives on a farm in Iowa.
A. G. Sims was educated in the country schools of Illinois and his early experi- ences were those of the boy who is reared on a farm and divides his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. He was a young man of twenty years when he arrived in Hamilton county in 1874 and here purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land. He bought an ox team and at once began to break the sod and till the fields. He continued the work of plowing, planting and harvesting and in course of time gathered rich crops. He bought his land mostly on credit, making partial payment thereon and when his first tract had been cleared from indebtedness he bought eighty acres more. He still owns his farm, on which he originally lived in a little sod house, while later he built a frame dwelling and added other modern equip- ments and improvements. He continued to occupy and develop the farm until 1910, when he came to Aurora and in 1913 purchased the property which is now his home.
It was on the 18th of October, 1882, that Mr. Sims was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Dixon, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, a daughter of William
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and Ellen Dixon, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Maryland. Their marriage was celebrated in his native state and in 1875 they arrived in Nebraska, taking up their abode in Hamilton county, where the mother passed away, while the death of the father occurred in Grand Island. He had become the owner of land in Hamilton county and was closely associated with farming interests here for a number of years. To him and his wife were born six children, five of whom are living: Mary Ann, the wife of A. W. Mason, of Gering, Nebraska; Mrs. Sims; Charles William, a resident of Grand Island, where he carries on agricultural pur- suits; George E., engaged in the grocery business at Scottsbluff, Nebraska; and Arthur L., a farmer of Putnam county, Illinois.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sims were born six children, of whom five are living: Harry E., who is engaged in the automobile business in Aurora; Hollis A., a farmer of Minatare, Nebraska; Frank C., living on a farm in Hamilton county ; Violet E., at home; and Leota Mary, the wife of Irvin H. Otto who is engaged in the insurance business in Aurora. Mrs. Sims is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Sims belongs to the Royal Highlanders and votes with the republican party, of which he has been a stalwart advocate since attaining his majority but never an office seeker. He is interested, however, in affairs pertaining to the general progress and improvement of the community and his cooperation can be counted upon to further plans for the public good. His life has contained no spectacular phases, but an analyzation of his record shows that persistency of purpose and unfaltering diligence have enabled him to overcome all obstacles and difficulties in his path and advance steadily toward his desired goal-the attainment of success sufficient to supply himself and his family with the comforts of life.
FRANK A. WESTERING
A public-spirited citizen of Edgar is Frank A. Westering, who for many years has been a leading figure in the agricultural and political circles of Clay county. A native of Illinois, he was born near Galesburg on the 11th of August, 1868, a son of C. A. and Emma Christina (Carlton) Westering, both natives of Sweden. Their marriage occurred in Illinois, where the father engaged in farming and for nine years they also resided in Webster county, Iowa, having removed there in 1868. Two years were passed as residents of Page county, Iowa, and subsequently, in 1879, they removed to Clay county, where the father purchased two hundred acres of land. At the time of purchase the land was nothing but prairie but some years later found it a highly cultivated and valuable property. This land is still in the family. Twelve children were born to that union, seven of whom are living. Frank A., whose name initiates this review, was the second in order of birth. Throughout his life Mr. Westering was a stanch democrat and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Lutheran church.
Frank A. Westering received his education in the country schools of Nebraska and for some time attended the schools in Fairfield. "After putting his textbooks aside he engaged in farming, for two years conducted an implement business in Edgar and traveled for a wagon house for a like number of years. For nine years
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Mr. Westering was active in the office of county supervisor and he is now chairman of the county board, which he has served in that capacity for the past five years. He was active in that connection at the time the courthouse was built. Mr. Westering has always stood for progressive public measures and is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of the community in which he lives. For three years he served his fellow citizens as mayor and his splendid qualities and genial manner made for wide popularity.
In March, 1891, occurred the marriage of Mr. Westering and Anna Peterson. She was a native of Sweden who was brought by her parents to this country when but nine months old. Her parents were Adolph and Johanna Peterson, who settled in Fillmore county in 1888, where they both resided until death. The mother lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Westering one child, Thera Lucile, has been born. She is in the ninth grade of the Edgar public schools.
Mr. Westering gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He is an exemplary member of the Masonic order, being a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Westering is now looking after his estate and has rented his farm, from which he receives a substantial income. He has done effective public work, his aid and influence always being given on the side of progress and improvement, his labor resulting most beneficially for the welfare of the community. His business career has been actuated by a progressive spirit that has prompted him to utilize wisely every opportunity that has come to him.
FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHUSTER
As a young man of ambition and self-reliance, Frederick William Schuster came to Nebraska, and here, through his well ordered endeavors in connection with farm industry, he achieved substantial prosperity, even as he had secured a place in popular confidence and goodwill. In addition to being the owner of one of the fine farm properties of Hamilton county and president of the Bank of Phillips and also in the Farmers Elevator Company, he was vice- president of the Farmers Lumber Company of Phillips.
Mr. Schuster was born in Germany in the year 1867, and is a son of Henry Schuster, who came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, in 1886, and here pur- chased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which had been constructed a sod house and a small barn. Here he continued his activities as a pioneer farmer until his death and here also his wife died, both having been earnest communicants of the Lutheran church. Frederick W. Schuster gained his early education in his native land and was seventeen years of age when he came to the United States and found employment at farm work near Grand Island, Nebraska. He continued to be employed by the month as a farm workman for some time and after the death of his parents assumed control of his father's home farm in Hamilton county, in the ownership of which he continued and which he developed and improved until it is one of the valuable farm proper-
F. WILLIAM SCHUSTER
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ties in the central western part of the county. The place is situated on section 22, Deepwell township, about five miles distant from Phillips, which is the post- office address and the excellent buildings and general attractiveness of the place mark the owner as a progressive and successful agriculturist and stock raiser. The land comprises four hundred and eighty acres on which there are two sets of buildings. Mr. Schuster encountered his share of reverses in his farm enterprise, including loss of crops in the years 1893 and 1894, when protracted droughts worked havoc in this section of the state.
In February, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Schuster to Miss Fredricka Tiemeyer, and they became the parents of three children; Herman, Paul and Emma, all of whom remain at the parental home. The attractive rural home of the Schuster family is situated in section 22 of Deepwell town- ship, and is known for its cordial hospitality.
Mr. Schuster was an independent voter but liberal and public-spirited as a citizen. He was a man whose character and reputation had marked influence in connection with the development of the solid and representative business of this institution. He was affiliated with the Royal Highlanders and was a communicant of the Lutheran church as is his widow. Mr. Schuster passed away on September 21, 1920, mourned not only by his family and immediate friends, but by the community at large.
P. J. SCHWAB
Philip J. Schwab, a retired farmer now living in Clay Center, was, born in Bureau county, Illinois, in 1867, a son of George P. and Catherine (Keiber) Schwab, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to America about 1843 or 1844 and they were married in Illinois, the mother having crossed the Atlantic about 1854. Mr. Schwab purchased land, making his payments largely on time, and thus he gained a start in the new world. In 1880 he removed to Clay county, having previously purchased land in this section of the state. He had become owner of an entire section, for which he paid twelve dollars per acre, and taking up his abode in Nebraska became identified with its agricultural interests, thus contributing in substantial measure to the development of his part of the state. He was a well educated and well read man for his day and for twenty-four years served as school director, the cause of education ever finding in him a warm friend. He was a very liberal man, ever ready to assist his friends and neighbors, and he aided many in obtaining their farms. He belonged to the Lutheran church in early manhood and later to the Evangelical church and he gave his political sup- port to the republican party, at times holding some local offices. In his family were thirteen children, eleven of whom are living, but only two, George W. and P. J., are residing in Clay county.
P. J. Schwab obtained his education in the public schools of this county and began life as a farmer, devoting his attention to the work of tilling the soil until 1919. Year by year he carefully cultivated his fields and harvested his crops and Vol. II-32
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his industry and perseverance constituted the basic elements of his growing success.
In 1891 Mr. Schwab was united in marriage to Miss Rosine Mack, a native of Germany and a daughter of Jacob Mack, who was also born in that country and became a resident of Clay county in 1879. He purchased land and owned a farm to the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Schwab became the parents of four children : Mabel, the wife of N. W. Kendall, a bookkeeper of Chicago; Florence, the wife of R. E. McKenney, who has a garage at Edgar, Nebraska, while his wife prior to her marriage was a stenographer for a number of years, working in the courthouse and at the incubator plant; J. Arthur, who is a junior in the Northwestern college at Naperville, Illinois; and Mildred, who is a senior in the high school of Clay Center. The parents are members of the Evangelical church and Mr. Schwab belongs also to the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a republican and was elected on that ticket to the office of county supervisor in 1914. He is now serving for his seventh year in that position, the duties of which he has discharged with marked prompt- ness and fidelity. He has also been a school director and the cause of education and of public progress along many lines has always found in him a stalwart champion. While he has retired from business, he is still the owner of a half section of valuable land, which he rents out, all under cultivation and well improved. He sold one farm and bought another half section and in all business transactions met with success. His father was a prominent stockman, raising pure bred shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and Percheron horses, and P. J. Schwab followed in his foot- steps. He and his two brothers had one of the biggest herds of red polled cattle in Nebraska at one time. He now makes his home in the city, giving much of his attention to the settlement of the estate of his father, who passed away November 23, 1918.
SAMUEL STAHLNECKER
Samuel Stahlnecker, whose life was devoted to the occupation of farming and who thus contributed to the agricultural development of Hamilton county, was born in Pennsylvania in 1840 and passed away in 1882. His father, Samuel Stahlnecker, Sr., was of German descent and spent his last days in Pennsylvania.
In the schools of the Keystone state Samuel Stahlnecker of this review pursued his education and there was reared, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. Having arrived at years of maturity he was married in 1868 to Miss Lizzie Huffman, a native of Pennsylvania, born February 13, 1848, and a daughter of Daniel C. and Mary (Frymire) Huffman, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, in which state the mother died. The father afterward came to Hamilton county in 1875 and purchased a section of railroad land. To him and his wife were born eight children, of whom five are living: Sarah L., the wife of Levi Hafer, a resident of Seward, Nebraska; Mrs. Lizzie Worthington ; Martin, who is a farmer of Hamilton county; Mrs. Hattie Frymire, living in Pennsylvania; and Mrs. Catherine McBride, of Colby, Kansas. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, loyal to its teach- ings and active in its support and in his political views Mr. Huffman was a democrat.
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To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stahlnecker were born seven children: Tillie, the wife of C. B. Huffman, now living in Aurora; William, who resides at Grand Island, Nebraska; Mrs. Becky Fox, living in Frontier county, Nebraska ; Frank, who is a resident farmer of Hamilton county; Dan, who also carries on farming in Hamilton county ; Leslie, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits at Grand Island; and Samuel, who likewise follows that occupation in Hamilton county.
Mr. Stahlnecker was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and through- out his life followed its teachings and endeavored to do unto others as he would have them do unto him. His political endorsement was given to the democratic party.
After six years of widowhood Mrs. Stahlnecker became the wife of Thomas Worthington, a native of Ohio, who came to Hamilton county in the early '70s and here secured a homestead claim, on which he resided to the time of his death. He became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he converted into rich and productive fields, annually gathering therefrom golden harvests. Mrs. Worthington now owns eighty acres, her father's old homestead in Hamilton precinct, section 19, in Hamilton county. In 1915 she removed to Giltner and in 1918 became a resident of Aurora, where she purchased a modern home at No: 1305 Eighth street. She has been a resident of Hamilton county since 1875, at which time she removed to Nebraska with her first husband, who assisted his father-in-law in the cultivation and improvement of the Huffman farm. Mrs. Worthington is widely known in the county, where she has now lived for forty-six years. She has been an interested witness of all that has occurred in the way of developing and improving this section of the state and her many sterling traits of character have gained her warm friendships and kindly regard.
WILLIAM W. CLACK
Since 1887 William W. Clack has been a resident of Clay county and as a suc- cessful and progressive agriculturist he is well known throughout the community. He was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, on the 22d of October, 1848, a son of J. B. and Mary (Walters) Clack. His parents were pioneer settlers of Illinois, where the father engaged in farming and stock raising and where they both passed away. Four children were born of that union, three of whom are living: Lydia J. Greene of Virden, Illinois; Sarah Haggard of Oklahoma; and William W., whose name initiates this review. They were consistent members of the Baptist church and Mr. Clack was a stanch democrat. The grandfather of our subject was William Clack, a pioneer of Illinois, where he preempted land.
William W. Clack received his education in the schools of Virden, Illinois, and after putting his textbooks aside engaged in farming and stock raising, having purchased a good tract of land. In 1887 he came to Edgar, Nebraska, and bought land and is now in possession of a section near Edgar and a half section in Montana. His success along agricultural lines is undisputed and he is conceded to be one of the leading farmers in Clay county and Nebraska.
In 1868 William W. Clack was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Walkington, a
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native of England, and they became the parents of three children: Mrs. Warren; Ida, the wife of W. E. Montgomery of Lewiston, Montana; and Edward W. Edward W. was born in Illinois and was married on the 22d of March, 1878, to Mary Emery, a native of Beatrice, Nebraska, and a daughter of John C. Emery. Her grandfather was an early pioneer of Beatrice, ran a tavern there, and was burnt out by the Indians. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Clack: Helen Emery and Mary Alice, both attending school in Edgar. From 1903 to 1919 Edward Clack was engaged in the real estate business at Edgar but gave up that line of work in the latter year, purchased an interest in the State Bank of Edgar and was elected cashier. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal church and he is an exemplary member of the Masonic order, being a Shriner and a Knight Templar.
Mr. and Mrs. William Clack are prominent in the social affairs of Edgar and in church activities as members of the Presbyterian church. They are now living retired. Mr. Clack is an earnest supporter of all interests which tend to promote the welfare and progress of his community and his aid and influence are ever on the side of right, truth and advancement. His has been an active, useful and honorable career, resulting beneficially in the upbuilding of Clay county.
PETER L. KISSINGER
Peter L. Kissinger of Fairfield, Clay county, is a self-made man, his success being attributable entirely to his persistent efforts intelligently directed. He is a native of Wisconsin, where his birth occurred at New Cassel in 1857, a son of Jacob and Anna Martha (Triber) Kissinger. Jacob Kissinger was born at Miner on the Rhine, in 1816, while his wife was born at Erfort, Prussia, in 1826 and died March 14, 1899. The demise of Mr. Kissinger occurred in 1891. He came to the United States at the age of twenty-eight years and Mrs. Kissinger came to this country with her parents when a young lady. They were married in Wisconsin on the 17th of September, 1845, and in that state the father followed his trade of shoemaker and about 1846 engaged in farming. In 1878 he removed to Nebraska, where he purchased railroad land, having saved enough money from his labors in Wisconsin to buy one hundred and sixty acres. He improved this land and brought it to a high state of cultivation and as a result it furnished him a substantial income. Some time later he and his wife removed to Glenville and their deaths occurred at that place. Ten children were born to that union, five of whom are living : August, a retired farmer of Hastings; Elizabeth, who is the wife of O. S. Ray- mond of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, a retired farmer, blacksmith and wagon-maker ; Peter L., whose name initiates this review ; Henry C., a farmer of Glenville; and William, a farmer and stock raiser in Mexico. Throughout their lives both Mr. and Mrs. Kissinger were devout members of the Baptist church and he always gave his political allegiance to the republican party.
In the acquirement of an education Peter L. Kissinger attended the district schools of Wisconsin and after putting his textbooks aside followed farming in that state for one year. The following year he spent in St. Joseph, Michigan, and then
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