USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 58
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 58
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as a leading representative of his profession in Clay county. Aside from his pro- fessional interests Dr. Bell is interested in the development of Clay county along agricultural lines as the owner of some fine land in this county and also in Colorado.
HENRY W. VICKERS
Since 1911 Henry W. Vickers has resided in Ong, Nebraska, where he is known and esteemed as a progressive agriculturist and business man. He was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, March 21, 1861, a son of John and Zilpha (Palmer) Vickers. The father was a well known stockman who located in Nemaha county, Nebraska, in 1871, coming there by train. In 1879 he removed to Jefferson county, where he purchased eighty acres of fine land and in connection with general farm- ing raised live stock and butchered. He passed away in that county at the age of sixty-five years, his death leaving a void in the community not easily filled. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Vickers: Thomas, who was born in England and is now engaged in the nursery business at Fairbury ; Mary, the widow of William Boddye; Myria, deceased; Susan, the wife of Stephen Wookey of Fairbury ; Henry W., whose name initiates this review; George, engaged in the implement business in Canada; Sylvia, the wife of Sam McNish of Fairbury; and Ernest and Jennie, deceased. Mr. Vickers was a democrat and reared his family in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The country schools of Nemaha county afforded to Henry W. Vickers his educa- tional training and he started working out on farms when seventeen years of age, drawing wages of from eight to ten dollars per month. He was ambitious to start farming on his own account and as a result "bached" on some rented land until he went with his father to Johnson county and subsequently came to Clay county in 1881. Buying eighty acres, he improved it and brought it to a highly cultivated state, from time to time adding additional land, until he was in possession of one and one-half sections of valuable farm property. He put up a set of improvements on each quarter and followed general farming and stock raising until 1911, when he decided to retire from active farm life. He removed to Ong, where he now resides, and for some time engaged in buying live stock. He built the first garage in Ong, from the sale of which he realized a substantial sum.
In Nemaha county, in 1884, occurred the marriage of Mr. Vickers and Miss Amelia A. Loveless, a native of that county and a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Payne) Loveless, natives of England who came to the United States in 1855. They were eight weeks and three days in crossing and on arriving in this country first located at Kankakee Illinois, from which town they later removed to Leaven- worth, Kansas. They were compelled to leave their home in that state upon the outbreak of the Civil war and fled west, arriving in Brownville, Nebraska, in 1856. For some time her father worked out on farms and then preempted one hundred and sixty acres west of Brownville. In 1860 he went to Colorado, where he pros- pected for three years, making that trip overland behind three yoke of oxen. It took him exactly one month to go from Brownville to Denver. In 1865 he re- turned to Brownville by way of steamhoat from Omaha and there purchased a fruit
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farm, which he conducted until his death in 1886 at the age of sixty-four years. His wife passed away in 1899 at the age of eighty years. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vickers five children were born: Amy, who is the wife of Gourley Over- turf, engaged in farming in Clay county ; Richard, a farmer of Clay county ; Rose, who is the wife of Doris Davidson, a farmer of Clay county; Frank, engaged in farming in Clay county ; and Annabelle, deceased.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Vickers the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party, having firm belief in the efficacy of the principles of that party as factors in good government. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. Now living retired in Ong, Mr. Vickers is enjoy- ing all of the comforts and many luxuries of life as the result of his well directed thrift and energy in former years.
GEORGE E. GLASS
George E. Glass, living retired in Fairfield, was born in Oldham county, Ken- tucky, on the 10th of August, 1840, a son of William and Emily (McCoy) Glass, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Madison, Indiana. Their marriage was celebrated in Kentucky. William Glass was a cooper by trade but devoted most of his time to farming and in 1870 went to Missouri, then to Iowa, and finally came to Nebraska, locating in Saline county, where he secured a homestead and there resided for a number of years. He then removed to Clay county and resided near Fairfield until his demise in November, 1897. Ten children were born to that union, of whom George E. was the eldest. One child besides our subject is living, W. T., also a retired farmer of Fairfield. The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Glass was that of the Christian church. Mr. Glass was a veteran of the Civil war, having become a member of the Thirty-sixth Iowa Regiment, with which he served one year. For many years he was a stanch supporter of the democratic party but later gave his political allegiance to the republican party.
George E. Glass attended the schools of Kentucky and Iowa and in 1862 enlisted for service in the Civil war becoming a member of Company C, Eighteenth Iowa Regiment, with which he served for three years. He was for the greater part of the time in Missouri and Arkansas. After the war he returned to Iowa where he remained five years. In 1871 he came to Nebraska and the following year located in Clay county, where he acquired a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and resided thereon for a number of years. In 1904 he sold the homestead and pur- chased other land, of which he later also disposed. He and his wife spent five years in California, in which state they had previously spent several winters, and in 1920 returned to Clay county and located in Fairfield, where they have a fine home.
· In 1878 ocenrred the marriage of Mr. Glass and Miss Maria C. Robinson, a native of Lucas county, Iowa, and a daughter of J. G. and Frances Wright (Allen) Robinson, the former a native of Washington county, Indiana, and the latter of near Lexington, Kentucky. Their marriage occurred in Indiana and they later removed to Lucas county, Iowa, where they resided for a number of years before
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moving to Calhoun county, that state, where they passed away. Six children were born to that union, three of whom are living: Mrs. Haynes of Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. Glass; and Mrs. Tigner of Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Robinson was a democrat in politics and a strong prohibitionist. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Christian church. He is a member of the G. A. R. post of Long Beach, California.
Mr. Glass has always given his political allegiance to the republican party, in the interests of which he has taken an active part. He has served as road supervisor and has been a member of the school board. The religions faith of Mr. and Mrs. Glass is that of the Christian church, of which they are consistent members. Mr. and Mrs. Glass are well known in the county and their home is noted for its hospitality.
FRANK FORST
Frank Forst is a prominent representative of the mercantile business in Clay county, his home being at Deweese. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 28th of October, 1860, a son of Anton and Elizabeth Forst, both natives of Bohemia, who came to the United States in 1858. They first located in St. Louis, where the father followed his trade as stone mason until 1872, when they removed to Nuckolls county. He homesteaded eighty acres of land in this county, making his home in a frame house already standing on the land and later erected a sod house, in which he resided for five or six years. He brought his original tract to a high state of cultivation and subsequently purchased another eighty adjoining and engaged in farming both tracts. His death occurred on the farm in 1886, while the mother passed away at Lawrence in 1896. Three children were born to their union: Annie, the widow of J. B. Massie, who now resides at Fairfield; Joe, a farmer of Kansas; and Frank, whose name initiates this review. Throughout their lives both Mr. and Mrs. Forst were consistent members of the Catholic church and he was a stanch supporter of the republican party.
In the acquirement of an education Frank Forst attended the public schools of St. Louis. His first occupation upon putting his textbooks aside was that of farm- ing and when thirteen years of age he came to Nebraska and located in Nuckolls county with his parents. For ten years he assisted his father in farming the home- stead and then removed to Fairfield, where he clerked in a store for one year. In 1889 he located in Deweese, where he has since remained. Upon locating there he entered the mercantile business, in which line he has built up an extensive and lucrative trade. He is a firm believer that satisfied customers are the best advertise- ment and endeavors to set before the public goods of the best quality at the fairest prices. Previous to locating in Deweese Mr. Forst traveled extensively throughout . the United States, profiting by the national slogan, "See America First."
In 1888 Mr. Forst was united in marriage to Miss Helen Borek, a native of Moravia and a daughter of Joseph Borek. Her father engaged in farming in Clay county for a number of years and is now residing in Oklahoma, financially inde- pendent. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Forst two children have been born, one of whom is living: Hilda, the wife of C. J. Fuhrer, a railroad man of Fairmont.
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In politics Mr. Forst is an earnest republican and he stands for all that is progressive in matters of citizenship. Thoroughness is one of his marked charac- teristics and he has mastered every detail of his own business. He has a very wide and favorable acquaintance and occupies a position of prominence by reason of his business ability and standing, his social qualities and his public spirit.
CHARLES EMRICH
For twenty-one years Charles Emrich engaged in farming an eighty acre tract just outside of Fairfield in which town he is now living retired. A native of New York, he was born in that state in 1851, a son of Frederick and Margaret (Bretch) Emrich, both natives of Germany who came to the United States in an early day, were married in New York and there resided until death. The father was a cooper by trade but followed farming for the most part, in which occupation he achieved a substantial amount of success. Nine children were born to that union, four of whom are now living: Charles, whose name initiates this review ; Louis, a rancher near Grass. Valley, California; Edward, conducting a grocery and meat business at Downers Grove, Illinois; and William, who is engaged in business with his brother Edward. Throughout their lives Mr. and Mrs. Emrich were consistent members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Emrich always gave his political allegiance to the democratic party.
Charles Emrich received a limited education in the district schools of New York. His oldest brother, John, enlisted for service in the Civil war and the services of Charles were needed on the home farm. At an early age he became a tiller of the soil and although he learned the blacksmith trade in New York he followed the former occupation the greater part of his life. When he removed to Illinois he conducted a blacksmith shop for five years, at the end of that time locating in Fairfield. For two years he engaged in farming near that town and then returned to Illinois for a short time. At a later date, however, he decided to make Fairfield his permanent residence and for some time engaged in the black- smith business there, in which line of work he won more than a substantial amount of success. He disposed of his shop after several years and purchasing eighty acres of land near Fairfield engaged in the occupation in which he was reared, that of farming, for twenty-one years. There is no phase of agricultural development with which Mr. Emrich is not familiar and he is recognized among the many successful farmers in the community as a leading and influential agriculturist.
In 1881 occurred the marriage of Mr. Emrich and Miss Harriett Schermerhorn, a native of New York, and a daughter of Alonzo and Mary Ann (Webster) Scher- merhorn, also natives of that state. Her father was a farmer and was well known throughout the community as a representative citizen. They were the parents of four children, two living: George Bryan, a retired farmer of Hill, New York; and Mrs. Emrich. They were both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he was always a stanch supporter of the republican party. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Emrich, three children were born: Laura, who is the wife of Harry Wilcox, farming the homestead of Mr. Emrich; George Brayton, residing at
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home; and Margaret Maurine, who is now engaged in teaching a country school. George Brayton entered the World war in 1917, enlisting in the truck corps. During his sixteen months' service he was located at Fort Logan, Colorado, San Antonio and Waco, Texas, and subsequently Virginia, where he drove a truck between Richmond and Camp Morrison. He received his discharge in 1918.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Emrich the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party, in the interests of which he has taken an active part, although he has neither sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Degree of Honor. Mrs. Emrich is also a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in club circles is active as a prominent member of the Clover Club. For the past ten years Mr. and Mrs. Emrich have lived retired in Fairfield, where they are readily conceded representative citizens. Both are owners of some fine land between Fair- field and Clay Center, owning three hundred and twenty acres in two different ťarms.
CHRISTIAN PETERSEN
Christian Petersen, after long years of connection with agricultural interests in Clay county, is now living retired at Ong. He is a native of Denmark, in which country his birth occurred on the 21st of February, 1844, a son of Jens and Chris- tiana (Larsen) Petersen. His father engaged in farming in that country and was a prominent citizen of the community in which he made his home.
Christian Petersen received his education in the schools of his native country and came to the United States in 1872, going to Wisconsin, where he obtained work on farms and in the lumber camps. On the 11th of July, 1875, he came to Clay county, where he bought a homestead right of eighty acres and broke the land himself. He put up a small sod house of one room with a board floor and roof and had it plastered inside. He also erected a slab barn with straw roof, in which to house his cattle and protect them from the weather. He set out some shade trees and an orchard, the latter mostly dying out, and he dug a deep well, from which he secured the greater part of his water. He brought the place to a high state of cultivation and improvement and thereon did general farming and feeding, spe- cializing in hogs. During the drought years of 1893 and 1894 he raised practically no crops. He achieved a substantial amount of success with his farming and feed- ing, having about one hundred head of hogs on hand every year. In 1901 he retired from active life and removed to Ong.
While working in Wisconsin Mr. Petersen met and married Miss Gertrude Jor- gensen, a native of Denmark, and they adopted and reared one daughter, Flossie, who is at home.
The political allegiance of Mr. Petersen is given to the democratic party, in the interests of which he takes an active part. He served as county supervisor for two terms, was chairman of the village board and also held numerous township and school offices. The religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church. Mr. Petersen has contributed much to the agricultural growth of Clay county and
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at one time owned a half section of fine land which he later disposed of. Those who know him, and he has many friends, esteem him highly as a man of genuine personal worth, as a business man of ability and as a citzen who is ever loyal to the best interests of the community.
TRUMAN B. MCCLELLAN
For many years Truman B. McClellan was widely known throughout Clay county as a prominent and successful agriculturist and business man. He was also well known in political circles and for two years held the office of mayor of Edgar. His death, which occurred on the 16th of December, 1917, came as a severe shock to his many friends in the community and left a void which will be hard to fill. He was born in northern Indiana on the 29th of October, 1846, a son of Thomas and Mary McClellan, both natives of Ireland who came to the United States with their parents when but children. They first located in Michi- gan, then removed to Indiana and subsequently to Wisconsin, where they re- mained until death.
Truman B. McClellan was indebted to the schools of Berlin, Wisconsin, for his education and after putting his textbooks aside lie engaged in farming. In 1879 he came to Nebraska and located in Clay County, where he lived on his father-in-law's farm for a number of years and then removed into Edgar, where he bought and sold live stock. Mr. MeClellan always took an active part in the development and improvement of the community and served his fellowmen as mayor for two terms and also on the town board.
In 1870 Mr. MeClellan was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Grant, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Harvey and Elizabeth (Randall) Grant, the former a native of Connectient and the latter of Vermont. The father was a well educated man for his day, having attended the common schools of Ohio and later the Oberlin College. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Grant took place in Ohio but soon afterward they removed to Wisconsin, where he preempted land on which they resided for a number of years. Subsequently they came to Edgar, Nebraska, in 1881, and he purchased some fine land in Clay county. At the time of his demise he was in possession of much valuable land. Before his death he erected a fine home in Edgar, which is now owned by Mrs. McClellan and in which she resides. There were four children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Grant, two of whom are now living: Mrs. McClellan; and Eva, who is the wife of R. C. Gill, an attorney of Seattle, Washington. Three children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. MeClellan, all of whom are deceased, but three grandchildren are now residing with Mrs. McClellan.
Mr. MeClellan gave his political allegiance to the republican party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. For some time he had lived on a ranch in Hitchcock county but sold it and removed to Edgar in 1917. Mr. McClellan was noted for his liberality and kindness. He was a friend to the needy and many times he sat in the sick room of friends or neighbors all night so that other members of the family might have a much
TRUMAN B. MCCLELLAN
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needed rest. He was keenly interested in all those activities which have to do with the upbuilding and development of the city along the lines leading to its permanent good and his worth as a man and a citizen was widely recognized. Mrs. McClellan is a consistent member of the Episcopal church and is active in the club and social circles of Edgar. In addition to her home property she owns a farm of two hundred and forty acres near Edgar.
CHARLES J. FURER
Charles J. Furer, engaged in the real estate and land business in Fairfield, was born in Woodstock, Illinois, in August, 1858, a son of Edward and Wilhelmina (Reimen) Furer, both natives of Hessen, Germany, in which country they were married and then came to the United States, locating in Woodstock, Illinois, in 1858. The father engaged in the grain and live stock business and was a successful and prominent man in the community. Six children were born to that union: C. J., whose name initiates this review ; Emma, a resident of Illinois; Augusta, who is the wife of E. E. Bagley of Ashland, Oregon; Lillie, who is the wife of F. G. Blakeslee of Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Amelia, a resident of Woodstock, Illi- nois. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Blakeslee, Edward, was first aid to Admiral Sims and assisted in laying all of the wireless radio system from France to England. His rank was that of lieutenant commodore and he served with distinction throughout the war. He had been a resident of Fairfield from 1884 to 1888 and his death, which occurred the February following the signing of the armistice, came as a severe shock to his many friends. The sixth and last member of the Furer family is Belle, the wife of Edward Heinmendinger, and they are residents of San Diego, California.
C. J. Furer received his education at Notre Dame, Indiana, and in 1876 grad- uated from a commercial school. He then went into the grain and live stock business with his father, but in October, 1883, left the parental roof and came to Nebraska, locating in Fairfield. Until 1910 he engaged in the grain and live stock business on his own account and had nine elevators on the K. C. & O. and St. Joe & Grand Island railroads for ten years. He shipped the first grain out of Clay Cen- ter and Verona and also shipped the first carload of stock out of Sutton on the K. C. & O. His business was of extensive proportions and in addition he owned a number of creameries. They were located at Fairfield, Davenport, Alma and Ruskin. In 1910 he launched into the real estate business and has won a great amount of success along that line. His business is extensive, covering western Nebraska and eastern Colorado, in which states he has charge of and partly owns forty-five quarter sections of land. One year he shipped ten thousand bushels of grain and received top price for most of that wheat. Mr. Furer had but little financial backing when he came to Clay county but he was a man of determined effort and allowed no obstacle to remain long in his path.
On the 8th of January, 1888, occurred the marriage of Mr. Furer and Miss Belle Wright, a native of Canada, and a daughter of Abraham and Jane (Mac- Farquahr) Wright, the former a native of England and the latter of Scotland. They Vol. II-37
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were married in Canada, where they came as young people and there resided until death, the father being a prominent and successful farmer. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Furer: Edward, in the grocery business at Sidney; Jeansie, the wife of Carl Wiley, a traveling salesman of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; and Donald, who is attending school in Fairfield.
Along political lines Mr. Furer gives his allegiance to no particular party but follows an independent course, supporting the man he thinks best fitted for the office. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church. In 1911 he built a fine modern home in Fairfield and resides there, a representative citizen. He has always taken a prominent part in the development and improvment of the commu- nity and his progress in his personal business is the result of his industry and determination.
ERNEST SCHROEDER
A native of Nebraska is Ernest Schroeder who was born in Jefferson county May 24, 1876, and is now residing on a fine farm in section 13, Marshall township, Clay county. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Possehl) Schroeder were both born in Germany and came to the United States when young people. The father first located in Iowa, where he worked out for some time and then came to Nebraska, settling in Jefferson county in 1870. He homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in that county, which he broke with the aid of a team and thereon resided for some years, his home being a primitive dugout. Some time later he built a fine frame house on the land, which he brought to a high state of cultiva- tion. Buffaloes and antelopes were plentiful in the vicinity of his home and he enjoyed many hunting trips. The Indians passed through his place on their fall and spring hunting trips and would often stop for food and warmth. He later disposed of his homestead and bought more raw land in Jefferson county, which he immediately put into cultivation and set out many shade trees and an orchard. He did the greater part of his trading at Old Meridian. In later life he became finan- cially independent, owning a half section in Jefferson county and a quarter section in Oklahoma, and he was living retired at the time of his death in 1914, at the age of sixty-five years. The mother passed away in 1901, at the age of fifty-seven. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder were consistent members of the Evangelical church and the father assisted in the organization of three schools. Eleven children were born to that union : John, a farmer of Colorado; Ernest, whose name initiates this review ; Albert, deceased; Otto, in Canada on a farm; Frank, deceased; Conrad, farming in Canada ; Emma, the wife of Henry Ohs, a farmer of Clay county ; Lizzie, the wife of Henry Knape, a farmer of Thayer county; Rosa, the wife of Ernest McLain, who served in the World war with a Colorado regiment; Lela, the wife of Dale Gehr of Florida; and Lena, who is clerk in the fruit department of Granger Brothers at Lincoln. The last named children are twins.
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