USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 6
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 6
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In 1892 Mr. Reiser married Miss Louise Sundermeier, and of their family of twelve children nine are living: Emma is the wife of Otto Tuenge, of Grand Island; Edward represented Hamilton county in the nation's military service in the World war, having been called into service on the 28th of May, 1918, and having received his preliminary training at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and Camp Mills, New York. From Philadelphia he sailed with his command in the latter part of July, 1918, and as a member of Company C, Three Hundred and Thirty-ninth Machine Gun Corps he was ten months in active service in Alsace-Lorraine, his com- mand having been a part of the Eighty-eighth Division of the American Expedi-
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tionary Forces in France. He finally was returned to his native land and at Camp Dodge received his honorable discharge on the 7th of June, 1919, his record as a gallant young soldier of his native land having been such as to reflect lasting honor upon his name and his native state. He is now associated with his father in the activities of the home farm. At the parental home remain also the seven other children, namely: Matilda, Carl, Theodore R., Elsie, Homer, William and Viola.
Mr. Reiser is a stockholder in the Farmers' Grain Elevator at Phillips and from that village his home receives service on a rural mail route. He served eight years as moderator of the school board of his district and has otherwise shown loyal interest in community affairs. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Lutheran church.
FRANK L. MUNN
For many years Frank L. Munn, now deceased, was active in the agricultural circles of Hamilton county and his death on July 8, 1914, came as a severe shock to his many friends. Born in New York city August 11, 1849, he went with his parents to Wisconsin when a small boy and made his home on a farm. He received his education in the country schools of the vicinity, the schoolhouses being primitive structures of logs with wooden benches for seats. In 1862 Mr. Munn enlisted in the Civil war, running away from his home in Adams county. He became a member of Company H, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry, with the rank of sergeant and served in this capacity throughout the war. At its close he returned to Wisconsin but soon after removed to Iowa where he rented land which he operated successfully for seven years. In 1872, deciding to settle in the west, he located in Hamilton county after a twenty day trip with mule team and wagon. The Missouri was crossed by ferry at Nebraska City. He homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres and his first home on this land was a small shanty, the lumber for which was hauled from Harvard. His barn was made of straw. The land at the time of homesteading was nothing but prairie, but Mr. Munn broke it him- self and brought it to a high state of cultivation. During the blizzard of 1873 he was snowed in three days but was fortunate in not losing any cattle. Mr. Munn took his grist to the mill at Grand Island and his provisions were hauled from Hastings, the trips being of difficult and tedious nature, due to the fact that at that early date there were no well defined roads running through that section of the country. During the grasshopper storms his crops were totally destroyed and Mr. and Mrs. Munn remember seeing the grasshoppers so thick that it was impos- sible to see the sun. Many Indians strayed past the ranch, asking for food and the hospitality received at the hands of Mr. Munn became well known throughout the county. The surrounding country was full of deer, antelopes and other game and at one time when on a deer hunt with some neighbors, Mr. Munn brought back twenty-two deer. At the time of his death Mr. Munn was in possession of four hundred acres of well improved land with forest trees and small orchard. His widow is now in possession of the homestead. In 1910 Mr. Munn retired from active farm life and removed to Trumbull, where he took an active part in civic affairs. He was one of the organizers of a school and for some years served as a
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board member. On the 8th of July, 1914, his death occurred and a deep feeling of bereavement swept the town and county in which he had so long resided.
In April, 1866, Mr. Munn was married to Miss Mary Palmer, a native of New York, who removed to Wisconsin with her parents when six years of age. Her parents were Alvah and Harriett (Taylor) Palmer and her mother lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Munn became the parents of six children: Wallace, who lives in Hastings; Leon, now at home; Nellie, the wife of Henry Benson; Nora, the wife of John Kingston; Chester A., who runs the home farm; and Samuel, who died when eleven months old.
Throughout his life Mr. Munn was a stanch supporter of the democratic party, being a firm believer in the principles of that party as factors in good government. He was active in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of the Harvard Post. Mrs. Munn is very active in the charitable and social affairs of the Methodist Episcopal church. Hamilton county lost a representative citizen in the passing of Mr. Munn and his place in the community has left a void that will not be easily filled.
HENRY ROSS
Before the great empire of Russia had been scourged by warfare that brought about its national disintegration, it had contributed many excellent citizens to the state of Nebraska, and among the number was George and Catherine (Koehler) Ross, who established their home in Clay county, this state, when their son Henry was thirteen years of age, his birth having occurred in Russia on the 14th of July, 1864, and in 1878 the family arrived in Clay county. There the father rented land and became a pioneer farmer and to assist further in providing for his family he was employed for some time at railroad work. He finally pur- chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and there continued his activities as one of the industrious farmers of Clay county until his death in 1893 at the age of fifty-three years, his widow being now a resident of Hastings, Adams county.
Henry Ross gained his initial knowledge of the English language after the family came to Nebraska, and he persisted in his efforts until he was able to read and write as well as speak the language, besides which he improved every opportunity to familiarize himself with the customs and economic policies of the land. He continued to be associated with his father in the work of the home farm until he had attained the age of twenty-five years, when he came to Hamilton county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unbroken land, in Orville township. He here built a little frame house, fourteen by twenty-two feet in dimensions, his first stable was constructed of poles and straw, and he made a dugout to serve as shelter for his chickens. Mr. Ross dug a well on his farm and his wife effectively aided him by hoisting the excavated earth with a windlass. He broke most of his land with his team of horses and a breaking plow of the type commonly used and with unfaltering industry applied himself to the cultivating and improving of his farm, with the result that his labors were attended with increasing success, as shown in the fact that he is now the owner of a well improved farm property of three hundred and sixty acres, the modern buildings and the
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general evidences of thrift and prosperity marking the owner as a sagacious, vital and progressive exponent of agricultural and live stock industry. Success thus won is ever worthy of commendation and Mr. Ross has proved himself true and loyal in all the relations of life, besides having gained high repute as one of the world's productive workers. He and his wife had their share of trials and per- plexities in connection with life on the pioneer farm, but their present prosperity fully compensates them for all they thus endured. In addition to his home farm estate of three hundred and sixty acres Mr. Ross has increased his holdings until he is now the owner of an aggregate of seven hundred and fourteen acres of land in Hamilton county, the same being improved with three sets of buildings. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Co-operative Company which owns the grain elevator at Eldorado and is a stockholder also in the Hamilton County Telephone Company. He served six years as a member of the school board of his district and has other- wise been loyal and liberal in the furtherance of community interests in general. He and his wife are active members of the Mennonite church.
Iu Clay county was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ross to Miss Catherine Brehni, who likewise is a native of Russia, and they became the parents of fourteen children : Henry W., Sarah, David, Rosa, Hannah, Elma, Reuben, Emma, Samuel, Rachel, Elda, Tena, Herbert, and Jona. All are living except Henry, who died December 16, 1918.
SAMUEL B. OTTO
Samuel B. Otto, living on section 18, Aurora township, has one of the beau- tiful and well improved farms in Hamilton county and is one of the most suc- cessful modern farmers and stock raisers in his section of the state. He is very active in all civic affairs and is a representative citizen of the county, where he has many friends.
Samuel B. Otto was born in MeLean county, Illinois, on the 17th of October, 1862, and there received his common school education. In due time he entered a business college and after putting his textbooks aside engaged in farming on his own account at the age of twenty-four. In 1904 Mr. Otto came to Hamilton county and purchased his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Aurora township. His farm is one of the finest improved places in the county and he devotes it to the raising and feeding of cattle, which are of the best grade. For many years Mr. Otto has served as school director in his district and has not been active in agricultural circles alone. He is president of the Aurora Elevator Company, president of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Com- pany, president of the Aurora Cooperative Creamery Company, and is a member of the executive board of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau, to the interests of which he devotes a large amount of his time.
Mr. Otto has been married three times. In Illinois on the 23d of February, 1887, occurred the first marriage, when he chose Mary S. Basting as his wife. Three children were born to that union : Mabel A., Roy B., and Ralph D. The first Mrs. Otto passed away in December, 1893, and on January 5, 1895, Mr.
MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL B. OTTO
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Otto was again wed, this time to Sarah Baumetz, and they became the parents of two daughters : Grace and Violet. The second Mrs. Otto passed away in May, 1901, and on the 5th of June, 1902, Mr. Otto was married to Miss Marguerita Baumetz, a sister of his second wife. Two children have been born to the latter union : Raymond E., who was born June 14, 1906; and Alta Louise M., whose birth occurred on the 30th of October, 1910.
The religious faith of the Otto family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Otto is a generous contributor to all of its charitable institutions. Mr. Otto is a man of high principles, sterling personal wealth and integrity. He is indeed a representative citizen of Hamilton county and one of whom the community may be justly proud.
B. O. BERGESON
For a long period B. O. Bergeson was actively connected with agricultural pur- suits but at length retired from farming and is now making his home in Aurora. The appreciation of his capability and trustworthiness on the part of his fellow townsmen led to his election to the office of county assessor and he is now filling that position. He was born in Norway, January 31, 1852, and is a son of Ola and Rachel (Runestad) Bergeson, both natives of Norway, whence they came to the new world, settling in LaSalle county, Illinois, in 1856. There the father pur- chased a farm upon which he and his wife spent their remaining days. They had a family of six children: B. O .; Erasmus, living near Earlville, Illinois; Mrs. Malinda Thompson, whose husband is a retired farmer of Paxton, Illinois; John, a physician of Boston, Massachusetts, who is specializing on diseases of the eye, ear and nose; S. E., a banker and merchant of Bismarck, North Dakota; and Mrs. Mary Dahl, whose husband is a merchant of Paxton, Illinois. Having lost his first wife the father was married a second time and there were six children of that union, of whom five survive: Anson, now a retired farmer living in Iowa; Julia, the wife of Thomas Sawyer, a capitalist of Humboldt, Iowa; Borem, a farmer and banker living at St. Cloud, Minnesota; Nelson, a farmer and grain dealer and shipper located at Swea City, Iowa; and Eddie, who is engaged in farming at Swea City. The father was a member of the Lutheran church and its teachings were a guiding force in his life. His political endorsement was given to the republican party. In his business affairs he displayed thoroughness and capability and won success as the years passed on.
B. O. Bergeson was but four years of age when brought by his parents to the new world and in the district schools of Illinois he pursued his early education, which was supplemented by two or three terms' study in Pawpaw College at Pawpaw, Illinois. When his textbooks were put aside he concentrated his efforts and atten- tion upon farming and for many years carried on general agricultural pursuits. In 1876 he arrived in Hamilton county, Nebraska, and purchased one thousand acres of land soon after reaching this state. This was school land for which he paid five dollars per acre. He built thereon a frame house and occupied the farm
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until his removal to Aurora in 1912. In the meantime he had transformed the place into rich and productive fields, from which he annually gathered good harvests and his careful management of his farming interests brought to him gratifying prosperity. He sold his land until he now owns four hundred and twenty-five acres in three different farms and three sets of buildings. The early days, how- ever, were fraught with hardships and difficulties and he said that in the first few years of his residence in Nebraska he had scarcely enough money to buy a three-cent postage stamp. He persevered, however, in the work of general farming, also bought and shipped stock of all kinds and raised feed. As the years passed his industry and diligence brought to him a measure of success that was most gratifying and he is now numbered among the men of affluence iu Aurora.
In 1874 Mr. Bergeson was married to Miss Mary Stephenson, a native of Illinois, and they became parents of a son and a daughter: Elmer, who is a real estate dealer and auctioneer of Aurora; and Amanda, the wife of Jesse Fowler, who is living on her father's farm. The wife and mother passed away in August, 1916, and on the 25th of December, 1918, Mr. Bergeson wedded Mary E. Lynch, the widow of J. B. Cunningham, who for many years was connected with official interests at the courthouse. She is a daughter of Thomas Lynch, who came to Hamilton county in 1882 and was the owner of a farm here.
Mr. Bergeson is a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife has mem- bership in the Catholic church. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons as a member of lodge and chapter and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a republican and during the past four years has served as county assessor, making a creditable record in the office. He has purchased a beautiful home at No. 1113 Eleventh street and is the owner of four hundred and twenty-five acres of well improved land, which yields him a gratifying financial return. Twice he has returned on a visit to his native land, his first trip being made in 1878 and his second in 1912. On the first occasion he remained for six months and on the last trip was gone for seven months, during which time he visited many points of interest in Europe. He has never had occasion to regret the fact that his parents left Norway in his youthful days, for in this land he and his father both found the opportunities for success and in the improvement of the chances which came to them made steady progress. By reason of his prosperity he is now enabled to live retired and yet enjoys all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
MRS. AMILIA WERTH
For many years Mrs. Amilia Werth, widow of William Werth, has resided in Hamilton county. She was one of the early pioneers in this part of the country, having arrived here in 1872.
Mr.' Werth was born in Germany May 24, 1844, and came to the United States in 1870, going direct to Henry county, Illinois. In 1872 he removed to Cass . county, Nebraska, but in the latter part of the same year located in Hamilton county, taking a one hundred and sixty acre homestead on Lincoln creek. For about six weeks a wagon box formed the only shelter for him and his wife. Soon
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a dugout was built on this land, consisting of one room with a straw roof and dirt floor. They had no furniture and a bed was made from old poles and brush. A table was made from an old elm tree, the remainder of the timber being used for fuel. Mr. Werth's land was broken with the aid of a horse team, five dollars having been the purchase price of one animal. Deer, antelopes and buffaloes were plentiful in the vicinity of the homestead and he was a participant in several thrilling buffalo hunts. There was one Indian camp in that community and Mr. Werth traded with them, ate several meals with them and found them quite civilized and friendly.
It was on the 15th of October, 1870, that Mrs. Werth became the wife of William Werth. His death occurred January 21, 1888, being the victim of a train accident at Hampton. He was a man of great energy and ambition and became widely known throughout the county. In that early day Lincoln was the nearest town to their homestead and Mr. Werth when hauling grain to that place would stop along the road and secure work in order to obtain enough money to buy feed for the horses. On the 13th of October, 1864, he had enlisted in the Union army from Springfield, Illinois, becoming a member of Company F, Ninth Regiment Cavalry and was in active service until mustered out at Montgomery, Alabama, October 31, 1865. Mr. Werth was one of the first county commissioners of Hamilton county and was the builder of the first bridge across Lincoln creek. Mr. Werth also had the distinction of having the first postoffice on Lincoln creek which was conducted in an old sod house. As a man of sterling character and great business ability, Mr. Werth endeared himself to a large number of friends throughout the community and his death caused a widespread feeling of bereavement where he had so long resided. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Werth; John, born in Cass county and who now resides in Hamilton county; Emma and Amilia, who died in infancy; Lizzie, who is now Mrs. Jacob Wall of Hamilton county ; Ida, now Mrs. Henry Keith of Hamilton county; William, at home; Carl, whose death occurred in 1911; Augusta and Hannah, at home; and Henry, whose death occurred on the 12th of March, 1916.
Mrs. Werth is now in possession of a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in Hamilton county, in section 26, Otis township. There were many hardships endured in the reconstruction period after the Civil war and also during the early pioneer days in Hamilton county, and Mrs. Werth remembers having paid as high as one dollar for a box of matches. But Mr. and Mrs. Werth allowed no obstacle to remain long in their path and she is now financially inde- pendent and one of the most prominent and highly respected women of the community.
R. O. GRIESS, M. D.
Well known among the younger members of the medical profession in Sutton is Dr. R. O. Griess who was born in that town January 15, 1892, a son of Peter and Sophia (Grosshans) Griess, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of Henry C. Griess to be found on another page of this work.
Dr. R. O. Griess is indebted to the schools of Sutton for his early education,
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having graduated from the high school there in 1913. He then entered a pre- paratory school at Lincoln, remaining for two years and then deciding upon the medical profession as his life work, entered the State Medical College at Omaha, receiving his M. D. degree on May 26, 1919. He then returned to his home in Sutton, bought out the practice of Dr. J. W. Thompson and has been practicing there ever since, building up an extensive and lucrative patronage. For eighteen months before his removal to Sutton for active practice Dr. Griess was an interne in the Methodist Episcopal hospital at Omaha, Nebraska.
On the 8th of March, 1920, Dr. Griess was united in marriage to Miss Marian Purdy, a native of Clarks, Nebraska, and a daughter of Clark Purdy, an old settler of that vicinity.
The religious faith of Dr. Griess is that of the German Reformed church and he is fraternally connected with Phi Chi, a college organization. In the line of his profession he is a member of the American Medical Association and is fast becoming recognized by leading members of his profession in the county as a most promising young physician and surgeon.
C. E. GOSSARD
C. E. Gossard, who was for many years prominent in the agricultural circles of Hamilton county, is now living retired in Trumbull, enjoying the fruits of a life spent in diligence and industry.
A native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, C. E. Gossard was born there on the 30th of September, 1854, a son of David and Mary (Elliott) Gossard, the former born on the Mason and Dixon line between Maryland and Pennsylvania and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. The father engaged in farming throughout his life and was a well known man in the vicinity in which he made his home.
C. E. Gossard received his education in the common schools of Pennsylvania. He lived with an uncle from the age of nine to nineteen years and then returned to his father's home where he resided for one year. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for three years and then in 1876 went to Illinois, where he obtained work on farms at the wages of twenty dollars per month. The first years of his residence in Illinois were spent in Canton and he then removed to Bushnell, where he remained for some time. He rented one hundred and sixty acres of fine farm land and there engaged in general farming until 1887, when he decided to come west. He landed in Hamilton county in that year and purchased two hundred acres of land, well improved for that time, having a frame house and barn. Mr. Gossard immediately set out an orchard and some shade trees but the orchard mostly dried out during the droughts of 1893 and 1894. In 1890 and 1891 in order to obtain fuel Mr. Gossard had to burn some of his corn which he had to replace at a cost of fifty-two cents per pushel. He sold his hogs during that period for two dollars and sixty cents per hundred. Mr. Gossard has been extremely successful in all of his farming ventures and is now in possession of two hundred and eighty acres of fine farm land. In 1908 he retired from farm life and removed to Hastings, where he remained for two years, then returned to
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the farm until 1915, when he moved to Trumbull. There he is now residing in a fine home which he purchased, a highly respected and successful citizen.
On the 3d of March, 1881, occurred the marriage of Mr. Gossard and Miss Minnie Hageman, a native of Illinois and a daughter of William Hageman, who made his home in Illinois until his death at the age of eighty-seven years. To them four children have been born : Ernest, who is engaged in farming in Clay county ; Creigh, a farmer of Hamilton county ; David W., who is Washington state manager for the White River Lumber Company; and Floyd C., who is a well known restau- rant man of Everson, Washington. David W. received his training for service in the World war at Camp Lewis, Washington, and won the commission of second lieutenant. Floyd also trained at Camp Lewis and had reached New York on his way to France when he was disabled and received an honorable discharge.
In politics Mr. Gossard has never taken a prominent part, although he has taken an active part in civic affairs. He is an independent voter but favors the principles of the republican party. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has passed through all the chairs in each lodge. He has served as school director of district number seventy-five in Hamilton county and has been chairman of the town board of Trumbull. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Gossard serves that organization as librarian. Mr. Gossard is widely recognized as a highly principled man and has won the confidence of all with whom he has come into contact. Trumbull is fortunate in having C. E. Gos- sard for a citizen.
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