History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 112

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742

USA > Nebraska > Richardson County > History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions > Part 112

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

FRED HAEFFELE.

Fred Haeffele, proprietor of nearly two hundred acres of fine land in the precinct of Arago, one hundred and twenty acres in section 28 and seventy-nine acres in the adjoining section, 22, and one of the best-known breeders of live stock in Richardson county, is a native of the Badger state, but has been a resident of this county since he was twenty years of age, having come here with his parents in 1883. He was born on a farm in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, October 19, 1862, son of Fred and Susanna (Schmidt) Haeffele, who came to this country in the spring of 1855 from Germany and after some years of residence in Wisconsin came to Nebraska and settled in Richardson county, becoming substantial pioneers of Arago precinct.

The elder Fred Haeffele was born in southern Germany on February 5, 1827, and there grew to manhood. In the spring of 1855, he came to this country, leaving his native land in March of that year and bringing with him his sweetheart and her parents and the other members of her family, seven in all, paying the passage of the family, and in May of that same year the party arrived in Wisconsin, their objective point upon taking passage for this country, and on July 4 following he and his sweetheart were married in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. She also was born in southern Germany, March 8, 1834. After his marriage Fred Haeffele established his home on a farm in Fond du Lac county and there continued to make his home until in the spring of 1883, when he disposed of his interests there and came to Nebraska, arriving in this county about the middle of March. Upon his

1135

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

arrival here he bought a farm in the precinct of Arago, established his home there and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on July 2, 1900, that date lacking but two days of being the forty-fifth anni- versary of his marriage. The elder Fred Haeffele and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Susan, who married Charles Hartman and is now deceased; Mrs. Minnie Zimmerman, of Falls City; Henry, of Falls City; Mrs. Katherine Hartman, of the precinct of Arago; Mrs. Louisa Scheitel, of the precinct of Jefferson; Charles, of Falls City, and Albert, of Jefferson precinct.

The junior Fred Haeffele was twenty years of age when he came to this county with his parents in the spring of 1883 and his labors proved a valuable factor in the work of developing the home farm during the first two years of his residence here. After his marriage in the fall of 1885 his father gave him a team, a wagon, harness and certain essential imple- ments of farming and in the following spring he rented a farm three miles north of Falls City and began farming on his own account, his undertaking proving so successful that in 1891 he was able to buy a farm of eighty acres, two miles east of the county seat. There he farmed for four years, at the end of which time, on account of the failing health of his wife, he sold his place and moved to Falls City. In 1896 he bought his present farm in sec- tions 28 and 22 of Arago precinct and began to make extensive improve- ments on the same, among these improvements being the removal of the house and barn from the center of the farm to the east-and-west road, and has for years been very comfortably situated there. In addition to his gen- eral farming, Mr. Haeffele has been an extensive breeder of live stock, his specialties being Durham cattle and Percheron horses, and he has done very well in his operations, having been thus engaged since 1904.

Mr. Haeffele has been twice married. On October 22, 1885, he was united in marriage to Emma Wulf, who was born in Iowa on April 19, 1867, a daughter of Henry and Dora (Hahn) Wulf, natives of Germany. who later became pioneers of Richardson county, where the former spent his last days and where the latter is still living, now a resident of Falls City. Mrs. Emma Haeffele died in May, 1897, without issue, and on May 27, 1900, Mr. Haeffele married Hattie Bertram, who was born in the precinct of Arago, this county, October 29, 1881, daughter of Adolph and Mary (Graff ) Bertram, the former a native of Germany and the latter of the state of Indiana, who came to Nebraska in territorial days and settled in Arago-

1136

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

precinct, this county, where they lived until their retirement from the farm and removal to Falls City, where they are still living, well-known pioneers of Richardson county. To this second union seven children have been born, Esther, Ernest, George, Walter, Dorothy, August and Lloyd, all of whom are living save the last named. Mr. and Mrs. Haeffele are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of their home com- munity. Mr. Haeffele is "independent" in his political views.

HOMER D. KIRK.

Homer D. Kirk, treasurer of the village of Rulo, justice of the peace in and for the precinct of Rulo and actively engaged in the insurance and farm-loan business in his home village, was born there and has lived there all his life. He was born on September 26, 1886, son of George D. and Martha (Hurn) Kirk, the former a Kentuckian and the latter a native of the neighboring state of Kansas and who is still living at Rulo.

George D. Kirk was born at Murphysville, in Mason county, Ken- tucky, in 1847, son of Washington Kirk, also a native of that state. When twenty-one years of age, in 1868, George D. Kirk came to Nebraska and located at Rulo, where he spent the remainder of his life. For some years he served as assistant postmaster of that village and was also for years justice of the peace in and for his home precinct. He engaged in the insur- ance business and built up a profitable connection in that line, remaining thus engaged until his death on September 4, 1906, the business since then being carried on by his son, the subject of this sketch. In 1877 George D. Kirk was united in marriage to Martha Hurn, of Rulo, who was born at Ft. Leavenworth. Kansas, October 11, 1860, daughter of Gentry and Susan Hurn, who settled in Rulo in 1868, arriving there by steamer. Gentry Hurn was born in Missouri and his wife was born in Virginia. He was one of the original "forty-niners," having gone to California over the old Santa Fe Trail in the early days of the gold discovery on the coast, and was later employed by the government at Ft. Leavenworth. Upon coming to this county in 1868 he engaged in farming in the vicinity of Rulo and there spent his last days, his death occurring in 1907. he then being seventy-seven years of age. Mrs. Kirk is still living at Rulo. She and her husband were the parents of nine children, of whom six are still living, namely: Mrs. Mamie Brown,

HOMER D. KIRK.

II37

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of Falls City; Mrs. Jennie Robertson, also of Falls City; Homer D., the subject of this biographical sketch; Mrs. Pauline McFrye, of Rockford, this state, and Max and Forrest, of Rulo.

Homer D. Kirk was reared at Rulo and completed the course in the Rulo high school in 1902. Upon leaving school he engaged in the insurance business with his father and upon the latter's death in the fall of 1906 he succeeded to that business and has since been quite successful conducting the sanie, most of the leading companies for which he is writing insurance being the Royal of Liverpool, the Hartford Fire, of Hartford, Connecticut, and the National Security Fire, of Omaha. Since taking over the business Mr. Kirk has added farm loans to the same and in this latter line also has done quite well. He is a Republican and is serving now as treasurer of the vil- lage. In November, 1916, he was elected justice of the peace and is still serving in that magisterial capacity.

On October 2, 1916, Homer D. Kirk was united in marriage to Ruth Gormley, who was born at White Cloud, Kansas, and whose mother, Mrs. Mary E. Gormley-Miller, is now conducting a boarding house at White Cloud, Kansas. To that union one child has been born, a son, George Homer, born on June 27, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk attend the Methodist church and take a proper interest in neighborhood good works, as well as in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Kirk is a member of 'Aerie No. 49, Fraternal Order of Eagles, at St. Joseph, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

JACOB BLOOM.

A stranger viewing for the first time "Evergreen Heights Farm", in Falls City precinct, this county, would at once conclude that its owner, Jacob Bloom, was a man of industry and good taste, for everything about the place is well kept.

Mr. Bloom was born on January 30, 1863, in Mahoning county, Ohio, a son of Jacob and Clementine (Swartz) Bloom. The father was born in Germany in the year 1812, and when about a year old his parents brought brought him to America, the family locating in Ohio among the pioneers and there he grew up, married and established his home in Mahoning county, where he was a cooper by trade. His death occurred in 1877. His

(72)

1138

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

second wife, Clementine Swartz, was born in 1839, near Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and her death occurred in 1902. His first wife, whom he married in early life, had no children. He was a member of the German Lutheran church. Eight children were born to the parents of the subject of this sketch, namely : Franklin M., who lives in Youngstown, Ohio; Katherine, the wife of Joseph McDermott, of Ellsworth Station, Ohio; Jacob, the subject of this sketch; Joshua, a farmer near Verdon, this county; Solomon, a carpenter at Verdon; Mrs. Cora Cook, who lives in Alliance, Ohio; George, who lives at North Lima, Ohio, and Victor, who lives at Elsworth Station, Ohio.

Jacob Bloom was but a lad when his father died and he started out to make his own living when but fifteen years old. His father was a poor man and left a large family for the widow to rear. Jacob earned his own board and clothes from the time he was seven years old and had little chance to obtain an education. He continued to work out as a farm hand until he was twenty-one years old, when he came West, in 1884, and rented land in this county for ten years. In 1895 he bought a farm five and one-half miles northwest of Falls City. He made many improvements on the place, includ- ing the building of a good barn, and there he engaged in general farming for ten years, at the end of which time he sold out and bought eighty acres near Verdon, on which he built a house and made many other improvements. Selling out in 1907, he moved to Falls City and worked for an implement store a year and a half, then bought a hardware store which he operated for a year, trading it for his present farm, which contains one hundred and twenty acres, in section 9, and here he has made a success as a general farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Bloom makes a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cat- tle, which find a very ready sale, owing to their superior quality. The leader of his fine herd is "Gardenia's Villager No. 485957". He started his herd in 1912 and it is now well advertised. At stated intervals he holds public sales on his place and the same are always largely attended. His farm was quite extensively improved by its former owner, W. R. Holt. The home is modern, being equipped with a furnace, hot and cold water and electric lights.

On December 18, 1890, Mr. Bloom was married to Cora Weaver, who was a daughter of Jesse and Emma Rebecca (Kroah) Weaver, both natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they removed to Illinois when young and there they were married. In 1873 they came to Nebraska and bought a farm fifteen miles northwest of Falls City. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are now deceased. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bloon, a daughter, Minnie, who married Ralph Burgner and has one child, Mary C.

Jacob Bloom is a Democrat, but is inclined to vote independently. Fra-

1139

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and Mrs. Bloom are members of the Brethren church.

LEWIS F. MARBURGER.

By industry and fair dealing Lewis F. Marburger has built up a good business as a merchant in Humboldt. He was born, July 23, 1873, at Dubuque, Iowa, and is a son of George F. Marburger, born in 1851 at Canal Dover, Ohio, and whose death occurred in 1904. The father of George Marburger was a native of Germany, from which country he came to America in the early sixties and served in the Civil War as a Union soldier. After the war he located in Iowa. He bought leather from U. S. Grant at Galena, Illinois, before the war, the future General and President having been engaged in the tanning business there for some time. Five generations of the Mar- burger family have been engaged in the leather and shoe business. George F. Marburger, father of the subject of this sketch, learned the shoemaker's trade at Bellevue, Iowa. He came to Nebraska in 1878 and located a shoe shop at Humboldt, his son Lewis being then only five years old. George F. Marburger was married, while living in Iowa, to Sarah Chase Scoville, who was born in the state of New York in 1855. Her father served in the Civil War. Three children were born to George F. Marburger and wife, namely: George, deceased; Frank, deceased, and Lewis F., the subject of this sketch.

Lewis F. Marburger was educated in the public schools and was gradu- ated from the Humboldt high school in 1891. He learned the shoemaker's trade under his father, whom he succeeded in business, conducting a well- equipped repair shop, and he is now proprietor of the oldest established business in Humboldt. He built a new store in the fall of 1913 and in it installed modern fixtures. He still does a large shoe-repairing business, but his main business is his store, in which he carries a large stock of shoes, rubber goods and hosiery. The business was originally established in 1879. Shoes and boots were made from the raw material for many years in this shop. In 1889 a stock of footwear was added to the business, father and son working together until the former's death in 1904, since which time the subject of this sketch has conducted the establishment alone. He has increased the business in various ways and his fine new brick building, which

1140

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

now stands on the old site, would be a credit to any town in this section of the state, being one of the most substantial and attractive buildings in Humboldt.

In 1887, Mr. Marburger was married to Bertha Dorland, whose death occurred in 1911, leaving three children, namely: Willard, now (1917) seventeen years of age, who is attending high school; Lee, fifteen years of age, and Harold, nine. In August, 1914, Mr. Marburger married Nellie Snoke, a daughter of C. M. Snoke, of Humboldt, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Charles, whose birth occurred on March 3, 1916.

Mr. Marburger is a Republican, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a member of the Presbyterian church. During his long business career in Humboldt he has done much in the way of promoting the general upbuilding of the town.

GEORGE BOWKER.

The late George Bowker, who at the time of his death in 1904 was the president of the Bank of Rulo, at Rulo, this county, and for many years had been one of the leading factors in the development of that part of the county, was a native of England, but had been a resident of this county since pioneer days, having come here in the fall of 1857. He was born at Buckworth Lodge, Huntingdonshire, England, May 13, 1835, son of Thomas and Rebecca (Burnham) Bowker, and was reared in his native country, after completing his schooling becoming employed in a grocery store, and remained there until he was twenty-two years of age, when, in 1857, he came to this country and after a short stay in Bradford county, New York, and at Elmira, that state, came out to the then Territory of Nebraska and in the fall of that year bought a tract of land in the vicinity of the landing where the village of Rulo later arose and before long became recognized as one of the leading landowners and cattlemen in that section. During the Civil War Mr. Bowker served in 1863-64 as commissary clerk in the quartermaster's department of the United States army at Ft. Kearney. When the First National Bank of Rulo was organized he was one of the active factors in that organization and when that institution was re-organized as the Bank of Rulo in 1890 he was made vice-president of the same and was later raised to the position of president of the bank. a position he held until his death. In a biographical sketch relating to his nephew, Thomas

1141

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

G. Bowker, now vice-president of the bank, there is set out a history of this bank, further mention of which also is made in the historical section of this work. George Bowker was for some years during the early part of his residence here interested with Stephen B. Miles in government mail contracts, his operations including lines in. Missouri and Texas. In 1896 he was united in marriage to Addie Woodford, of Rulo, who survives him. Mr. Bowker was a member of Orient Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Rulo, and after his death on December 31, 1904, his body was accorded full Masonic honors.

THE SHILDNECK FAMILY.

The Shildneek family has long been well established in Richardson county, throughout which they are well and favorably known, and they are among the leading citizens of Salem and vicinity.

Hiram S. Shildneck, now living in retirement at Salem, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, June 23, 1841. He is a son of Willian and Massa (Guidan) Shildneck, whose family consisted of nine children, six sons and three daughters, only two of whom are now living-Hiram S., who was seventh in order of birth, and Mrs. Mary E. Moser, a widow, who lives in Washington county, Maryland. William Shildneck was a tanner by trade, and lived all his life in Maryland, dying there at the age of eighty-three years. His wife was also a native of that state, where she lived and died.

Hiram S. Shildneck grew to manhood in Maryland and there attended the public schools, remaining at home until 1862, when he moved to Illi- nois and settled in Ogle county. At Polo, that state, he enlisted, in January, 1865, in Company F, Eighteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but the war being nearly over he did not see much active service. He was mustered out and honorably discharged at Ft. Steele, Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was stationed several months. After the war he returned to Illinois and bought a farm, which he improved and operated until 1886, in which year he came to Nebraska, buying a farm in Liberty precinct, Rich- ardson county, which was well improved, and there he farmed until 1903, when he sold out. His place consisted of two hundred and forty acres of valuable and productive land, and the price he received was one hundred dollars an acre. In connection with general farming he was a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He was one of the successful

II42

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

farmers and stockmen of the county. Having accumulated a competency and old age coming on he retired from active life in 1903, moved to Salem, where he built a commodious residence and has there continued to reside to the present time.

On February 16, 1866, Hiram S. Shildneck was married to Mary F. Hammond, who was born in Virginia, in 1844, a daughter of Philip and Lydia (Kretzsinger) Hammond, both natives of Virginia, where they grew up and married, later moving to Illinois. They had only the one child, Mary F., who married Mr. Shildneck. Four children were born to Hiram and Mary F. Shildneck, namely: Flora, who is the wife of Charles Frederick, of Almena, Kansas; William P., who is engaged in the hardware business at Salem: Mrs. Bertha E. Schrader, who lives in Richardson county and who is mentioned in a separate sketch in this work, and Charles, who is engaged in the hardware business in Salem. Hiram S. Shildneck is a Prohibitionist, a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and a member of the Congregational church.

William and Charles Shildneck, mentioned above, started in the hard- ware business in Salem in 1903 and they have built up a large and growing business. They carry a complete line of hardware, implements and furni- ture. Their first store was destroyed by fire in 1910, and they then erected their present substantial and modern brick building, forty-five by ninety feet.

William Shildneck was born on September 29, 1869, in Ogle county, Illinois, and there he spent his boyhood and attended the public schools, later attending the high school at Holton, Kansas. He grew up on the home farm, where he worked during the crop seasons. When a young man he worked for the Burlington Railroad Company as agent at Salem and in various places in the West for about twelve years. For the past fourteen years he has devoted his attention to the hardware business.

On August 5. 1895. William Shildneck was married to Nellie M. Long. a daughter of William P. and Hettie J. (Eshelman) Long, natives of Penn- sylvania. where they grew up and were married. In the fifties they removed to Illinois, becoming early settlers in Ogle county, where they remained until 1872, when they came to Nebraska and located on a farm in Richardson county. Mr. Long died here in 1912 at the age of sixty-nine years. His widow is now living in Brown county, Kansas, at the age of seventy years. Four children have been born to William Shildneck and wife, namely: Carl H., Lloyd P., Jesse W., and Paul R.

Charles Shildneck was born in Ogle county, Illinois, September 19, 1880, and was reared on the home farm, where he worked when a boy,

II43

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and he received a common-school education. He engaged in farming until he entered the hardware business with his brother in Salem, in 1903. In 1907 he married Josie Hinton, a daughter of John Hinton and wife, early settlers of Richardson county. To this union two children have been born, Cleo and John.

FRANK E. CHURCH.

One of the farmers of Franklin precinct, Richardson county who fol- lows twentieth century methods is Frank E. Church, who owns a well- improved and productive farm of two hundred and seventy acres on which he carries on general farming and raises large numbers of cattle and hogs, forging to the front rank in his locality during his residence there of twenty- five years on the same farm.

Mr. Church was born on February 26, 1870, in Wisconsin, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Rood) Church. The father was born in 1844 and died on March 25, 19II. The mother, who was of English descent, was born in Canada in 1851 and died on February 4, 1904. In 1880 Joseph Church and family emigrated to Nebraska and settled on a farm east of Dubois, Pawnee county, and in the spring of 1889 settled in Franklin precinct, Richardson county, on land a part of which is now owned by Frank E. Church. The family of Joseph Church numbered six, only two of the children now surviving, Frank E., and Mrs. Mary Standerford, who also lives in Franklin precinct, Richardson county.

Frank E. Church grew up on his father's farm, where he worked when a boy during the summer months, in the winter time attending the district schools, and when but a boy turned his attention to farming. He rented the farm he now owns for a while, then purchased it in 1894. He has added many improvements, including the erection of a large modern residence, also good barns and other buildings. He has managed well and has suc- ceeded.

On November 10, 1892, Mr. Church was married to Mary Vanier, who was born in Richardson county, October 5, 1871, and was reared in her native locality and attended the public schools. She is a daughter of John and Martha (Alott) Vanier. The father was born June 17, 1833, in Pennsylvania, from which state he removed to Ohio with his parents when young and there he grew to manhood and married. In November, 1858, he removed to Nebraska, locating in the southwestern corner of Richard-

1144

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA,

son county, being one of the pioneers there. He developed a good farm from the wild prairie and continued to reside there for a period of forty- two years or until 1900, when he moved to Dubois, Pawnee county, where he lived for nine years. He now lives with his daughter, Mrs. Church, being now (1917) eighty-four years of age. His wife, Martha Alott, was born in 1834 and died on November 9, 1905. To John Vanier and wife the following children were born: George, who lives in Dubois, Nebraska; Oscar, who lives in Fairbury, this state; Mrs. Susan Brinker, who lives in Colorado Springs; Mary, wife of Mr. Church, and Jacob, who lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 112

Author: Edwards, Lewis C Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1742

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742