USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 60
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 60
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CHARLES SCHLIEP
Charles Schliep, justly accounted one of the representative farmers of Clay county, located in township 6, range 7, section 29, was born in Illinois in 1879, a son of Frank and Dena (Friezman) Schliep, both natives of Germany. They were married in that country and coming to the United States soon afterward, located in Illinois. There the father followed farming until 1879, when he removed to Nebraska and bought a farm in Clay county. He was a very successful man and at the time of his death owned four hundred and eighty acres in the county. On first coming to the United States he had a hard time but his grim determination and well directed effort and industry helped him to overcome all obstacles and he reached the top round of the ladder of success. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schliep, eight living, all of whom are residing in Clay county with the excep-
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tion of one, who lives in South Dakota. Charles Schliep was the fifth in order of birth and a twin of George. The other children are: John, residing iu Glenville township; Reka, who is the wife of Charles Barge of Fairfield; Henry, farming in South Dakota; George, residing near Glenville; Sam, also living near Glenville; Lena, who is the wife of Charles Nowka, a farmer northeast of Hastings; and Kate, who is the wife of Jack Clark, owner of a bakery. Throughout life Mr. Schliep was a stanch supporter of the republican party and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Church of God.
Charles Schliep received his education in the district schools near Glenville and after putting his textbooks aside assisted his father in farming the home place. At the age of twenty-one years he bought a farm near Clay Center, which he traded some time later for his present place near Fairfield. He owns two hundred and forty acres of highly improved and cultivated land, on which he has built a modern home and fine outbuildings.
On the 25th of November, 1903, occurred the marriage of Mr. Schliep and Miss Mary Konzak, a native of Clay county and a daughter of Fred Konzak, who came to Clay county in an early day. He is still living at Harvard, where he is a promi- nent and highly respected citizen. Six children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Schliep: Freddie, sixteen years of age; Ethel, fourteen years of age ; Raymond, eleven years of age; Ruby, who is nine years of age; Elizabeth, four years of age; and Chester, two years of age.
In politics Mr. Schliep is an earnest republican and he stands for all that is progressive in matters of citizenship. He served as road overseer three years and his undivided support may always be counted upon in furthering any movement for promotion of the general welfare. The religious faith of the family is that of the Church of God, of which they are consistent and prominent members. Mr. Schliep has always engaged in mixed farming, raising some stock, and the concentration of his energies upon his business affairs has justly won him classification with the representative farmers of Clay county.
ANTONE SPECHT
Antone Specht, a retired farmer living at Edgar, is one of the influential and respected citizens of that place. His life has been one of great industry and he has gained well earned prosperity. He was born in Germany, October 4, 1859, a son of A. and Barbara (Bieck) Specht, both natives of that country, where they passed away. The father was a farmer and was well known in the community in which he resided as a successful and progressive man. Twelve children were born to that union, of whom our subejet was the eleventh in order of birth. Six of the family came to the United States: Frank, who was county treasurer of Marshall county, Illinois, for two terms; Thomas, who for years resided in Boulder, Colorado, where his demise occurred; Antone, the subject of this review ; August, residing in Port- land, Oregon; Joseph, a resident of La Salle, Illinois ; and Emma Ripley of Peoria, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Specht were members of the Catholic church, in which faith the family were reared.
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Antone Specht received his education in the schools of his native country but realizing that broader opportunities were offered for young men in the new world he came to the United States in 1879. For a short time he remained in New York, where he learned the butcher business and followed that work at various places until 1892 when he came to Clay county, settling at Edgar. He then bought a butcher shop which he ran for a number of years and in connection with that busi- ness bought and sold stock of all kinds. He built up a fine trade, conducted his business on high and honorable principles and became well known throughout the community. He owns a block of land in town, which he uses for feeding stock, in addition to a fine home property.
In 1883 occurred the marriage of Mr. Specht to Miss Frances Stegelman, a native of Germany who came to the United States alone in 1880. To their union six children have been born: Oscar, a stockman with the Cudahy Packing Com- pany at St. Joseph; Clara, the wife of Mack Welan, who owns a restaurant in Kimball; Edgar, connected with a plow and implement company at Louisville, Kentucky; Frank, who owns a restaurant at Edgar; Grace, who is the wife of August Stoldoff, a conductor on the Burlington; and Emma, the wife of Fred Sceiast, manager of the elevator at Kimball.
The political allegiance of Mr. Specht is given to the republican party, in the interests of which he takes an active part. For some time he was a member of the town council of Filley, Gage county. The religious faith of Mr. Specht is that of the Catholic church, while his wife is a Lutheran, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Masons. He is owner of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in Clay county and is financially independent. As the result of his own determined effort Mr. Specht has achieved more than a substantial amount of success and is rightly entitled to the proud American title of a self-made man.
WILLIAM SHIVELY
William Shively, whose efforts have ever been guided by sound judgment and who in his farming operations has won a measure of success that now enables him to live retired in a most attractive, pleasant and comfortable home in Edgar, was born in Berlin, Ohio, September 1, 1847, a son of Peter and Eleanor (Aten) Shively. His paternal grandfather, George Shively, was a native of Germany and his maternal grandfather, Aaron Aten was born in this country, of English and Scotch ancestry. His father, Peter Shively, was born in Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1802, and passed away in 1856. The mother was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and her demise occurred in 1877. In 1826 her marriage to Peter Shively occurred in that state and two years later they removed to Ohio, where the father purchased a farm in Portage county. There they resided until death. Seven children were born to them, William being the only one now living. They were members of the Congregational church and Mr. Shively gave his support to the whig party.
William Shively received his education in the district schools of Ohio and after putting his textbooks aside engaged in farming. In 1880 he came to Clay county,
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where he had purchased land, one hundred and sixty acres, on ten years' time. He had but one hundred dollars to pay down on it. He also owned some land in Kansas. His Clay county land he brought to a high state of cultivation and resided thereon until the fall of 1909 when he removed into Edgar. He sold his farm, the sale netting him a substantial sum, and has since led a retired life. Mr. Shively has always taken a keen interest in the development and improvement of the community and as a result of his popularity was in 1917 elected to the office of mayor. He held that office only three days when he resigned, feeling himself unable to cope with certain situations. He is known far and wide for his con- scientiousness and honesty and is highly respected by his fellow citizens. He has been on the city council and the school board and was county supervisor while still living on the farm.
In 1876 in Ohio occurred the marriage of Mr. Shively and Miss Almina Sheets, a native of Deerfield, Portage county, Ohio, and a daughter of Linus and Mary (Wilcox) Sheets, both natives of that state. The father engaged in farming there for many years and was a prominent man in the community in which he resided until death. Mr. and Mrs. Shively have one adopted daughter, Gertrude, who is now the wife of Thomas C. Hart, a farmer of Edgar.
The political allegiance of Mr. Shively is given to the republican party, in the interests of which he has always taken an active part and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Shively is never remiss in duties of citizenship, standing loyally for every cause or project which he believes to be for the benefit and upbuilding of community, commonwealth or country.
LE ROY BURLINGAME
Le Roy Burlingame, who for many years was identified with contracting and building in Clay Center, becoming one of the pioneer residents of the town and contributing much to its development as the years passed, was born in Warren county, Iowa, in 1856, and died in Clay Center in 1900. His parents were S. L. and Roda (Tuttle) Burlingame, both of whom were natives of New England. Remov- ing to Iowa, they spent several years in that state and in 1880 came to Nebraska, settling in Osceola. The father, who had for many years followed farming, retired from active business life in his later years. For a considerable period he filled the office of treasurer of Polk county, Nebraska. To him and his wife were born ten children, five of whom are living.
Le Roy Burlingame, who was the fifth in order of birth in the family, pursued his education largely in the schools of Indianola, Iowa, and afterward learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until within a period of four years prior to his demise. He came to Clay Center in 1880 at the time of his parents' removal here, being then a young man of twenty-four years. There were few houses in the town and he assisted in building many of the principal residences of this place. He did contract work for several years and won success through his capability and able management.
In 1878 Mr. Burlingame was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Council, who
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was born in Warren, Iowa, a daughter of Willis and Matilda (Boseman) Council. Her father was the second white child born in Illinois after the admission of the state into the Union and the mother was a native of North Carolina. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Council were eight children, four of whom survive: Leonard, who is a retired farmer, now living 'in Summerset, Iowa; Mrs. M. E. Stiles, a widow, residing at Harvard, Nebraska ; Mrs. Abe Coffman, also a widow, living in Oakland, Nebraska ; and Mrs. Burlingame. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their consistent Christian lives won them the respect of all who knew them. The father had served as a soldier in the War of 1812.
To Mr. and Mrs. Burlingame were born three children: Bessie, who for twelve or more years has been employed in the post office at Clay Center; Bertha, who occupies a position in the state house at Lincoln; and Hazel Edna, the wife of R. E. Forsell, of Omaha, who is a foreman for the National Refining Company. Mrs. Burlingame and her daughters are loyal and helpful members of the Christian church. Mr. Burlingame was a member of the Knights of Pythias, also of the Modern Woodmen and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he was interested in all that per- tained to progress and improvement in the city and county. After her husband's death Mrs. Burlingame built a nice home in Clay Center, taking up her abode therein in 1912. She has carefully reared her family, for twenty-one years have passed away since her husband's death, and she may well be proud of the records made by her daughters. Mrs. Burlingame has ever taken a helpful interest in the work of the church and the daughter, Bessie, has played the piano in the church for sixteen years. Their aid is always given on the side of right, advancement and improvement and the family is highly esteemed in Clay Center.
D. B. MASSIE
D. B. Massie, a native son of Clay county, is now engaged in farming three miles west of Fairfield. He has been active in business and political circles of Fairfield and is widely known throughout the county as a representative citizen. On the 23d of May, 1881, in the county in which he now resides his birth occurred, his parents being J. B. and Anna (Forst) Massie, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Bohemia.
D. B. Massie was a pupil in the schools of Fairfield and after graduating from the high school took a course in a business college. For several years he was a stenographer but at the end of that time entered into the real estate and insurance business on his own account. He was active in that connection for seventeen years and achieved more than a substantial amount of success. Mr. Massie entered the World war on the 28th of August, 1917, and was sent immediately to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, later being sent to Camp Pike, Arkansas, and received his discharge on the 7th of December, 1918.
In 1915 occurred the marriage of Mr. Massie and Miss Allie Lee, a native of Clay county and a daughter of J. T. and Levina Lee, the former a" native of Iowa
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and the latter of Ohio. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Massie, one child Leila has been born. She is now four years of age.
Mr. Massie gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a firm believer in the principle of that party as factors in good government. For fourteen years he served as police judge and was on the city board for some time. He likewise served his fellowmen as city treasurer. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and is past master of Fairfield lodge. During his entire life Mr. Massie has made his home in Clay county, where he has many friends who appreciate his true personal worth and have watched his successful career with great interest.
JOHN S. LOGAN
Dependent entirely upon his own resources from an early age, John S. Logan is today occupying an enviable position among the farmers of Clay county, his hold- ings being in township 5, range 7 W., section 34. He was born in Pike county, Illinois, in January, 1871, a son of Daniel S. and Alta (McFall) Logan, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Their marriage occurred in Illinois, where both located as young people and where the father followed farm- ing for the greater part of his life. Mr. Logan went to Kansas to get a piece of land and was taken suddenly ill and died there in 1873. His death came as a severe shock to his many friends. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having at first enlisted in a military company from Pennsylvania and later was transferred to the cavalry under Sheridan. He was wounded several times and taken prisoner and was mustered out as second lieutenant. Mrs. Logan is still living at the age of seventy-two years and makes her home with John S., the only child born to that union. Her husband was a stanch supporter of the republican party and both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The death of John S. Logan's father occurred when our subject was but two years of age and his education was obtained by his own determined effort. He attended the country schools of his native state and later entered a commercial school at Atchison, Kansas. He was determined to make a success of life and soon after putting his textbooks aside removed to Nebraska, locating in Alma in 1882. He immediately accepted a position as clerk and followed that occupation in con- nection with farming until he was appointed deputy county treasurer of Harland county, at the age of eighteen years. In 1891 he moved to Hastings, where for five years he practiced law in the county attorney's office and acted as court reporter for eight years and in 1901, having saved considerable money, bought some land in Clay county onto which he moved in 1905. He is now residing on that half section, which has been brought to a highly cultivated state and is recognized as one of the finest homes in the county and there he raises full blooded stock, Poland China hogs, Shropshire sheep, shorthorn cattle and White Wyandotte chickens.
In 1891 occurred the marriage of Mr. Logan and Miss Minnie Beall, a native of Stark county, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas and Ophelia (Bush) Beall, both natives of Kentucky. They came to Illinois at an early day, where the father became known as a prominent and progressive farmer and stockman and in later life they
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removed to Nebraska. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bush passed away in Alma and there they are buried. Eleven children were born to them, ten of whom are living. Mrs. Logan was the ninth in order of birth. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Logan four children have been born: Leah, who is the wife of Floyd East of Memphis, Tennessee, one of the highest salaried insurance men in the south, having four states under his jurisdiction ; Pauline and John, at home; and Margaret in school. The son took an agricultural course in Lincoln and both older daughters are grad- uates of the Fairfield high school and attended Wesleyan College.
For some years Mr. Logan gave his support to the democratic party but he now follows an independent course, voting for the man he thinks most suited to the office. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, a Woodman and is past vice chancellor of the lodge at Hastings. He established the D. O. K. K. lodge at Hastings and takes a promi- nent part in its activities. Although the greater part of Mr. Logan's time has been devoted to his business interests he has served his fellowmen as county judge, an office to which he was appointed for one year and which he administered so satis- factorily that he was reelected for two other terms, making five years' service in that connection. It was on the termination of his duties in that office that he took up - farming. Mr. Logan has a private market for the greater part of his stock and at stock shows he has been well represented and carried off several premiums. To the promotion of agricultural interests he devotes a large part of his time and money and in the activities of the Farm Bureau he takes a prominent part. He has been a dominant factor in the organizing of such bureaus in Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Kim- ball and Banner counties, which work required a period of four months. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age Mr. Logan has learned his lessons in the school of experience and his life illustrates that it is under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of necessity that the strongest and best in men is brought out and developed.
NELS HANSEN
1
To men and women who came from the fair Norseland has Nebraska owed a generous measure of her industrial development and progress, and the late Nels Hansen, who was born in Denmark in the year 1847, was a sterling citizen who did well his part in the development of the natural resources of Hamilton county, where he established his home in the middle-pioneer period and where he achieved substantial prosperity through his constructive association with farm enterprise. His primary ambition was to provide well for his family, that his wife and children might be assured of stable prosperity, and he gave to his children the best possible advantages. He was a man of superior intelligence, marked energy and inflexible integrity, and he was one of the well known and honored pioneer citizens and representative farmers of Otis township at the time of his death, on the 18th of April, 1916.
Mr. Hansen was reared and educated in his native land and was twenty years of age when he came to the United States. A close observer and appre-
NELS HANSEN AND FAMILY
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ciative of travel and varied experience, he visited various states of the Union within the early period of his residence in this country, but after establishing his home in Nebraska never wavered in his loyalty to and appreciation of this progressive commonwealth. By his own labors he had accumulated six hundred dollars when he initiated his career as an independent farmer in Hamilton county, his possessions at that time including also a good team of horses and a small supply of farm implements and machinery. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section 10, Otis township, the place having been entered previously as a homestead but it had run down. Its only buildings were a sod house and sod stable, and he and his wife occupied the sod house for three years, until he felt justified in erecting an excellent frame house on the farm. The first year he raised a crop of corn on his land and with the passing years he developed its agricultural resources to the utmost, besides being successful in the raising of live stock. He made good improvements on his farm and grad- ually added to its area, with the result that at the time of his death he was the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred acres, which is retained in the possession of his widow, who here continues to maintain her home and who has shown marked ability in the management of the property and incidental busi- ness affairs.
In Hamilton county, in the year 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hansen to Miss Kirstine Anderson, who was born in Denmark in 1859, and who was twenty years old when she came to the United States, and passed one year in Wisconsin before coming to Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen became the parents of three children : Marie, Laura and John. The daughters are at home with their mother. John is married and living on the other farm.
Mr. Hansen took intelligent interest in public affairs, especially those of local order. He was an earnest communicant of the Danish Lutheran church. as are also his widow and children.
SWAN N. PETERSON
Swan N. Peterson, who at the time of his death was prominently engaged in dealing in live stock in Hamilton county, passed away October 9, 1920, when sixty-one years of age. He was born in Sweden, June 10, 1859. He remained a resident of his native country during the period of his minority, and then went to Chicago, Illinois, where he later became a resident and was employed as a contractor with the Pullman Company for a number of years. In 1884 he with his brother John came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, where they continued build- ing and contracting for a number of years. Later they invested in land and other property and also engaged in buying and selling live stock. They owned and operated the first threshing machine in Hamilton county. In 1910 Swan N. Peterson with his family removed to Aurora, still continuing to deal in live stock, of which he was an excellent judge, and his investments were most judiciously made.
In 1887 Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Emma Nordgren, who came to the
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United States at the age of fifteen years. For many years she was a resident of Chicago. In 1885 she came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, residing with her brother, John G. Nordgren, until the time of her marriage to Mr. Peterson. Six children were born to them: Mrs. Robert Lamberton, now a resident of Norfolk, Virginia ; Mrs. Harry Berggren, of Bayard, Nebraska; Eleanor, at home; Mrs. C. O. Thomas, of Omaha, Nebraska ; Mrs. L. E. Pearce, of Des Moines, Iowa; and one daughter who died in infancy.
Mr. Peterson was a member of the Swedish Mission church of Aurora. In politics he was a republican, always voting for the men and measures he thought worthy. He took a most active interest in the work of the church and for more than twenty-five years served as Sunday school superintendent, realizing fully the value of training for the young and doing all in his power to instill into their minds principles which would remain with them in later years. He was devoted to the welfare of his family and found his greatest happiness at his own fireside. His sterling worth was widely recognized by all who knew him, and everywhere he was held in high regard. The family still own the old homestead.
JAMES A. KNUTSON
Energy and diligence, intelligently directed, always result in success and these qualities have been crowning features in the life work of James A. Knutson, who is now a retired farmer of Clay Center, resting from further labor in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He was born in Norway, December 11, 1855, and is a son of Knute and Ingber (Jacobson) Knutson, who spent their entire lives in the land of the midnight sun. The father was a prosperous farmer and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Lutheran church. They became the parents of fifteen children and James A., the youngest of the family, was but a babe when his parents passed away.
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