USA > Nebraska > Richardson County > History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions > Part 127
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advanced with a view to entering the house and searching the premises. Seizing a kettle of boiling water that happened to be "handy," the intrepid pioneer woman stood in the doorway and cried: "I will scald the first man that attempts to cross my threshold!" Recognizing that her words were not a mere idle threat, the men discreetly withdrew and the hidden fugitive pres- ently was enabled to go on his way rejoicing. Another instance of "Mother" Dorrington's courage, stoutness of heart and intrepidity of spirit may be cited. At the time the "Jayhawkers" were threatening to burn the village the situation seemed sufficiently serious to warrant the removal of the women and children to a point of greater security, but Mrs. Dorrington stoutly declined to be thus sent away, declaring that where her husband and sons were, there she would stay.
David Dorrington was a native of England, born in Hertfordshire on January 1I, 1812. He received his schooling there and became a skilled carpenter and joiner, later locating at Hatfield, the country seat of the ancient family of the Cecils (Burleigh), and for some years thereafter was engaged as the head of the mechanical force engaged in remodeling Cecil hall and the mansion house. In the fall of 1839 he married and in 1842 came to the United States, locating at Whitesboro, in Oneida county, New York, where he continued his vocation as a building contractor until the year 1857, when he came West and settled in Doniphan county, in the then Territory of Kansas. In that same year he heard of the platting of the Falls City townsite, not far to the north of where he had settled, and on September 7, 1857, he arrived at the townsite, the only visible evidence of which at that time was the location stakes, and proceeded to erect a dwelling house on the place, thus becoming the first householder in the now progressive and populous city of Falls City. It was not long until other settlers became attracted to the townsite and as the first carpenter on the ground, Mr. Dorrington presently had his hands full of contracts. He not only was extensively engaged in the building way, but he became an investor in farm lands and was more or less active in other pursuits having to do with the development of this region and was early recognized as one of the leading men in this section of the then Territory of Nebraska. As noted in the introduction to this sketch, Mr. Dorrington was elected third mayor of the town and in other capacities represented the people in an official way, and was particularly active in his participation in the movement that even- tually led to the establishment of the county seat at Falls City. He had become an Odd Fellow in 1844, while living in New York, and was one
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of the movers in the raising of a lodge of that order in Falls City, having been a charter member of Falls City Lodge No. 13, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which was instituted on September 28, 1869. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dorrington spent the remainder of their lives in Falls City, ever use- ful and influential citizens of that place. "Mother" Dorrington died on June 26, 1879, and her husband survived her two days more than two years, his death occurring,on June 28, 1881.
On September 15, 1839, at Middlesex, England, David Dorrington was united in marriage to Ann B. Wood, who was born in Essex county, England, and to that union were born six children, namely: Frederick M., who died at Alliance, Nebraska, January 28, 1903; George E., who died in 1910; John W., whose last days were spent at Yuma, Colorado; Annie M., widow of Judge Isham Reavis, of Falls City; William E., a retired banker, of Falls City and Kittie L., wife of_Edwin S. Towle, of Falls City.
NATHANIEL D. AUXIER.
Nathaniel D. Auxier, county commissioner, farmer and stockman, owner of two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land in sections 26 and 35, Liberty precinct, this county, was born on June 21, 1861, in Johnson county, Kentucky. He is the son of Nathaniel and Hester (Mayo) Auxier, to whom thirteen children were born, namely: Samuel, deceased; George, deceased; Julia, who married James Cooley, of Prestonburg, Kentucky ; Mrs. Martha Hager, Missouri; Mrs. Minta Friend, deceased; Andrew, deceased: Thomas, deceased; James B., deceased; Mrs. Angeline Layne, deceased; Louise, who died in infancy; Edward E., further reference to whom is made elsewhere in this work; Nathaniel, the subject of this sketch; and John David, who was killed in the battle of Salt Works, Virginia. George was also a soldier in the Civil War and was wounded in the course of an engagement in Tennessee.
The elder Nathaniel Auxier was a farmer and continued so engaged up to the time of his death at the age of fifty-three years. He was born in Johnson county, Kentucky, in 1812 and died in 1866, when the subject of this sketch was five years old. Mrs. Hester (Mayo) Auxier, born in Jack- son county, Kentucky, died when forty-eight years old, her death occurring at the time her son, Edward E., was born in 1864, and when Nathaniel D. was three years old.
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Nathaniel D. Auxier, who was but an infant when his father and mother died, was reared on a farm with his elder brothers and sisters and was educated in the district schools of his native state. When he had reached the age of twenty years, in 1881, he came to Richardson county and worked out for two months near Rulo. He taught school for a period of six years in this county, for one year in Kentucky and one year in Missouri. In 1887 Mr. Auxier bought eighty acres of land northeast of Verdon. Having improved the tract he continued to operate the same for nine years and then sold out in 1896. In the latter year he bought one hundred and twenty acres in section 18, Ohio precinct, which he farmed for ten years and sold in 1906. He then acquired his present farm of two hundred and eighty acres in sections 26 and 35. Liberty precinct. Since the purchase of this land Mr. Auxier has made considerable improvements and is engaged in general farming in which he has been quite successful, his agricultural methods being modern in all essential features. In addi- tion to his farming operations he is also engaged in the breeding of Poland China hogs, and, as in his farming operations, he is equally successful in his hog raising.
On October 24, 1883, Nathaniel D. Auxier was united in marriage to Pheribe Prichard, daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Compton ) Prichard, natives of Kentucky, who in 1865 came to Richardson county and settled in Arago township. Joseph Prichard died in 1914. at the age of seventy- seven years. His widow is now living in Falls City and is now in her seventy- eighth year. They were the parents of eight children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Auxier four children have been born, as follows: Walter T., a graduate of Verdon high school and now engaged helping his father on the farm; Elmer E., now living on the south eighty acres of his father's farm, married Edna Griffith and they are the parents of one child, a daughter, Alice; Maude, who died at the age of three years. and Ruth, at home, who was graduated from Salem high school.
Mr. Auxier is affiliated with the Democratic party and has been a consistent supporter of that party's principles for many years. Since Jan- nary, 1917, he has been serving as county commissioner and in other ways he is interested in the welfare of his precinct and county. He is a member of the Christian church and has been elder in the same for some years. He also holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Verdon and takes a keen interest in these fraternal organizations.
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MORRIS FRIEND.
Whenever an attempt is made to write the history of a successful enter- prise or the worthy career of any man it has been found that ability, backed by energy and push, has been the basis of it all, and this fact cannot fail to impress itself upon the writer of history proper or that branch which con- sists of the biographies of those who have achieved sufficient distinction to make the record of their lives of interest to the public. Morris Friend, for- merly one of the enterprising citizens of Richardson county, but now living in honorable retirement in the city of Lincoln, after a very successful busi- ness career, owes his success in life to his own fighting qualities-fighting ability that overcomes obstacles.
Morris Friend was born on February II, 1859, in Alsace-Lorraine, a son of Simon and Mary (Levy) Friend. The father was born in Alsace- Lorraine, France, October 24, 1826, and his death occurred on March 24. 1899. The mother was born on January 1, 1829, and died on February 8. 1898. She was also a native of France. There these parents grew to matur- ity, attended school and married. They made their home in Alsace-Lorraine imtil 1886, when they immigrated to America and located at Humboldt, this county, but removed to Lincoln in 1889. The father lived in retirement after coming to America. To Simon Friend and wife nine children were born, seven of whom are living at this writing. Only two of them came with their parents to Nebraska, the other living children having preceded them to the United States. They were named as follow: Charles, who died in Europe in infancy; Mrs. Babette Spear, who died in Bennett, Nebraska; Sarah, who lives in Lincoln; Mrs. Nannie Sarbach, who lives in Nebraska City ; Morris, the subject of this sketch; Pauline, who makes her home in Lincoln; Mrs. Mathilde Frosh, who lives in Lincoln; Gus, also a resident of that city, and Mrs. Alyne Levy, a resident of Hastings, Nebraska.
Morris Friend spent his boyhood in his native land and there received his education. He immigrated to America in 1876, coming on west to Atch- ison, Kansas, where he clerked in the general mercantile establishment of his uncle, L. Friend. He soon mastered the various ins and outs of this line of endeavor and in 1880 came to Nebraska and engaged in the general merchan- dise business for himself, at Humboldt, this county, in partnership with Albert Weinan, with whom he remained two years, at the end of which time he formed a partnership with Joseph Sarbach, his brother-in-law. later buying the latter's interest and continuing the business alone until 1893, when he
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sold out and moved to Lincoln. He had been successful as a merchant and built up a large and satisfactory trade with the people of Humboldt and vicin- ity, always carrying an extensive and carefully-selected stock of goods. His store would have been a credit to a much larger town.
Upon locating in Lincoln, Mr. Friend turned his attention to a new line of business, directing the affairs of the Beatrice Creamery Company, of which he was the organizer and of which he was secretary for a period of fifteen years. Under his able management and perseverance this venture proved to be quite successful. He first devoted his time principally to the egg and pro- duce business. He is still a stockholder and director of the creamery, but retired from active life in 1911, having accumulated a handsome competency through his earlier years of business, having proven to be a man of sound judgment and keen foresight. These qualities coupled with honesty, prompt- ness and courtesy in dealing with his many customers, brought a large meas- ure of material success and at the same time won the respect and good will of all with whom he came in contact. He owns a large acreage of valuable farm lands in Wyoming, Texas and Lancaster county, Nebraska, and is also a shareholder in a number of important corporations.
On January 19, 1886, Morris Friend was married at Atchison, Kansas, to Minnie Frank, a native of that city, where she grew up and attended school. She is a daughter of Leon and Matilda (Kohn) Frank. the former of whom was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 24, 1827, and who died on April 9. 1907. Mr. Frank grew up in his native land and there attended school and continued to reside until 1848, in which year a large number of his country- men came to the New World, he being one of them. He located first in Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He came West in 1860, and settled in Atchison, Kansas, in pioneer days, and there he engaged successfully in the mercantile business until 1893, when he returned to Philadelphia, where his death occurred. His wife, Matilda Kohn. was born in Wurtemburg. Germany, March 7, 1835. and she grew up and was educated in her native land. Her death occurred in Philadelphia on April 5, 1912.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Friend, namely : Mrs. Gertrude Gugenheim, who lives in Lincoln, where her husband is engaged in the clothing business, and Victor E. Friend, who lives at home, and is a sales manager for the Nebraska Material Company. Both children received excellent educational advantages. After passing through high school they attended the State University. Morris Friend owns a commodious and mod-
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ern home at 1845 E street, Lincoln, and also a valuable business block at P and Tenth streets.
Mr. Friend is an independent voter, and has never been a seeker after political honors, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his large business interests and to his family, being best contented when by his own fireside. Therefore, he has never been much of a clubman, but is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he has attained the thirty-second degree. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Independent Order of B'nai Brith. He has been a member of the Reformed church for twenty-four years, and is president of the board, and active in church affairs. He has always been a liberal supporter of the church. He is also charitably inclined, giving freely of his means to worthy causes, but always in a quiet way, avoiding publicity as much as possible. He has been treasurer of the local charity organization for the past fourteen years. He was one of the organizers of the Richardson County. Association of Lincoln and has been president of the same since its organization. He is a member of the Lincoln Commercial Club, of which he was formerly a trustee and director. Mrs. Friend is an active worker in the Women's Club of Lincoln. They are both well known and popular in the best circles of Lincoln.
WASHINGTON SAILORS.
Washington Sailors, one of Richardson county's best-known and most substantial farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of more than three hundred acres in the precinct of Barada, is a native of the old Hoosier state, but has been a resident of this county since he was five years of age and has thus been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region since pioneer days. He was born on a farm in Wabash county, Indiana, April 14, 1865, son of William H. H. and Mary E. (Miller) Sailors. both natives of that same state, who later became pioneers of Richardsou county, where the former spent his last days and where the latter is still living, now a resident of the village of Barada.
William H. H. Sailors also was born in Wabash county, Indiana. April 9, 1837, son of George W. and Asenath (Scott) Sailors, natives of Penn- sylvania and pioneers of Indiana, the former of whom died in Indiana in 1852, the latter some years afterward coming to Nebraska, her last days being spent in the western part of this state. George W. Sailors and wife
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were the parents of eight children, of whom William H. H. was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: John T., deceased; James A., now a resident of Sioux county, this state, an honored veteran of the Civil War and who served for some time as a prisoner in the dreadful Confederate prison pen at Andersonville, Georgia; Winfield S., deceased; Mahala, who married MI. Allison and is now deceased; Andrew J., of Hitchcock county. Nebraska: Lot G., of Thurston county, Nebraska, and George W., of Hitch- cock county.
Reared on a pioneer farm in Wabash county Indiana, William H. H. Sailors there grew to manhood and married Mary E. Miller, who was born in the Connersville neighborhood in Fayette county, Indiana, February 12, 1843. daughter of George W. and Harriet (Bloomhardt) Miller, pioneers of that county, who were the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. Sailors was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Daniel, a vet- eran of the Civil War, now deceased; William T., also a veteran of the Civil War: Benjamin, who also served in behalf of the Union during the Civil War and is now living in Lincoln county, Kansas: Clara, who married J. Henderson and is now deceased; Hulda, wife of F. Saare. of Wichita, Kansas; Margaret. deceased ; Lincoln, deceased; Florence. deceased, and one who died in infancy. Early in the spring of 1870, William H. H. Sailors left Indiana with his family and came to Nebraska, arriving in Richardson county on March 8 of that year, and settled on a farm in the precinct of Barada, where he established his home and was beginning to see his way clear to the development of a fine bit of farm property there when the grasshopper scourge swept over this region like a blight. He then would have gladly sold his place and got out of Nebraska, but there were no buyers at that time and he was compelled to "stick it out," which was a fortunate thing for him, for presently the plains began to smile and his operations pros- pered greatly. As he prospered he added to his holdings until he became the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres of land and was accounted one of the leading farmers and stockmen in that part of the county. Mr. Sailors was a stanch Republican and from the very beginning of his residence in this county took an active interest in local civic affairs for some time serving as a men- ber of the board of county supervisors. He was a member of the Christian church, as is his widow, and also took a proper part in church work and other local good works. William H. H. Sailors died on December 5, 1909, and his widow is now making her home in the village of Barada, where she is very pleasantly situated. They were the parents of fourteen children of
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whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow : James T., of Barada precinct; Melissa. who married Robert Ankrom and is now deceased; Harriet, deceased; John H., of Barada pre- cinct; Benjamin, deceased; Clara, deceased; Omer, of Barada precinct ; Ida, wife of William Percival, also of the precinct of Barada ; Lot, deceased ; Fred, of Cedar county, this state; William, deceased; Pearl, deceased, and Otis B., of the precinct of Barada.
Washington Sailors was not quite five years of age when he came to this county with his parents in the spring of 1870 and his youth was spent on the pioneer home farm in the precinct of Barada, where he grew up thor- oughly familiar with conditions that confronted the pioneer farmer here on the plains. After his marriage at the age of twenty-one years he rented a tract of land from his father and established his home on that portion of the old home place, where he has ever since continued to make his residence and where he has developed one of the best farm plants in that part of the county. In 1901 he bought a quarter section in section 9; when the estate was divided he inherited an "eighty," and he has added further to his holdings until now he is the owner of three hundred and nineteen acres of well-improved and profitably cultivated land in sections 22 and 9. He has a modern, nine-room house, a barn sixty-six by seventy feet in dimensions, and the other improve- ments on the place are in keeping with the same. Until 1894 Mr. Sailors gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock, but has since then given his chief attention to general farming and is doing very well. He is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.
On March 1, 1887, Washington Sailors was united in marriage to Ava- lena Prine, who was born in the vicinity of Indianapolis, in Marion county, Indiana, daughter of James P. and Frances (Richardson ) Prine, the former a native of the state of Pennsylvania and the latter of Marion county, Indiana, who came to Nebraska about 1881 and settled in Barada precinct. this county, where their last days were spent. James P. Prine and wife were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Sailors, the third in order of birth, being George B., of Adams county, this state ; Emery B., of Pawnee county ; Will- iam H., of Adams county, and one who died in infancy. To Washington and Avalena (Prine) Sailors have been born eleven children, all of whom are living save the eighth in order of birth, who died in infancy, the others being Guy, who is clerking in a store at Barada, and Harry, Ray, Frances, Ben- jamin, Ruth, Rena, Emery, Laura and Nettie. Mr. and Mrs. Sailors are
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members of the Christian church and their children have been reared in that faith, the family taking a proper part in church work, as well as in other good works and in the general social activities of their home community.
FRED W. HEINEMAN.
Fred W. Heineman, manager of the Maust Elevator Company, also farmer and live-stock buyer, who resides at Verdon, this county, was born on July 18, 1861, in the principality of Waldeck, Germany, a son of Daniel and Louise (Kahn) Heineman, also natives of that country, where they grew up, married and established their home. They were parents of seven children, namely : Minnie, the wife of L. Schaffer, of Auburn, Nebraska; Henry, who lives on a farm a mile west of Verdon; Frederick W., the subject of this sketch; Charles H., a contractor, of Falls City; Louise, the wife of William Crouch, of Liberty precinct, this county; Lewis, who also lives in Liberty precinct, and Mary, the wife of F. Baller, of Exeter, Nebraska. Daniel Heineman, father of the above-named children, was born in Waldeck on November 18, 1824, and died on February 20, 1903. He left his native land in 1864, bringing his family to the United States, locating in Chicago; later moving to Carroll county, Illinois. About the time of the close of the Civil War he enlisted in the Union army, but never saw service. He was a stone- mason by trade and followed that vocation for a livelihood throughout his active life. . He came to Nebraska in 1872, locating near Falls City, where he continued working at his trade, later moving to Barada precinct, where his sons were farming. About 1887 he moved to Liberty precinct and his death occurred on the place now owned by Henry Heineman. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in 1830 and died in 1913. She and her hus- band were members of the Lutheran church.
Fred W. Heineman was three years old when his parents brought him to America. He was reared on the farm in Richardson county receiving his education in the district schools, and has always engaged in farming. He purchased his first farm about 1895, paying fifty dollars an acre for the same, and is now owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable and pro- ductive land, one hundred and sixty acres in section II and one hundred and sixty acres in section 16 of Liberty township. He has been quite successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and his land is under a high state of cul- tivation and improvement. He has always been regarded as an exceptionally
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good judge of live stock and has bought and shipped stock to the markets for many years. He is also manager of the Maust elevator at Verdon, which does a large annual business. Besides cattle and hogs he has also raised a good many horses from year to year. He moved to Verdon in 1910 and in February, 1917, began managing the elevator for the Albert Maust Elevator and Live Stock Company.
Mr. Heineman is a Democrat and has served on the town board of Ver- don. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He was married on August 17, 1886, to Lois Bowers, a daughter of Daniel Bowers. She was born near Canton, Ohio, in 1868, and came with her parents to this county when young. Mention of her family is made in the sketch of her brother, E. L. Bowers, appearing elsewhere in this work. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Heineman, namely: Meta, the wife of F. Porr, « f Humboldt, this county, and Gorman, Roy and Keith, who are at home with their parents.
HERMAN A. FISCHER.
Herman A. Fischer, proprietor of a well-kept farm of eighty acres in section 18 of Jefferson precinct, this county, is a native of Germany, but has. been a resident of Richardson county since he was seven years of age. He was born on November 4, 1875, son of Fred and Wilhelmina (Schmundt) Fischer, also natives of Germany, the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Falls City, and who were the parents of six children, of whom two are still living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mrs. Hulda Peters, who is living in the precinct of Falls City. Fred Fischer was born in 1843 and grew up as a carpenter, working at the latter trade in his native land until the year 1882, when he came to the United States with his family and proceeded on out to Nebraska and settled in Richardson county. For some time after coming here he rented land, on which he engaged in farming, but after a while became owner of a farm of his own in Liberty precinct and at the time of his death in 1911 was the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres. His widow is now making her home in Falls City, where she is very comfortably situated.
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