History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 129

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

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On June 1, 1871, Brevet Simanton was married to Helen M. Baldwin, who was born in Montpelier, Indiana, a daughter of John C. and Rachel (Waugh) Baldwin, natives of Vermont, and to this union the following children have been born: Edwin B., who lives in Arizona; John R., who lives in Falls City; Mrs. Jennie S. Pence, who also lives in Falls City, and Marion, wife of T. R. Burchard, who lives on a farm in Nemaha county, Nebraska. Politically, Mr. Simanton is a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Civil War veteran. having enlisted in 1864 in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

John R. Simanton, mentioned in preceding paragraphs, was born at Falls City on September 5, 1874, and there he grew to manhood and attended the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1892. He has always worked with his father, whom he has succeeded in the greenhouse business and is making a pronounced success. He was married in 1901, to Ethel Minnick, who was born in Calker City, Kansas, a daughter of Robert and Sarah R. (Ireland) Minnick, who were early settlers of Richardson county. Mr. and Mrs. John R. Simanton have two daughters, Sarah and Ruth. Politically, John R. Simanton is a Republican and, fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Royal High- landers.

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WILLIAM PERCIVAL.

William Percival, proprietor of a fine farm in sections 22 and 23 of the precinct of Barada, this county, is a native of the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of this county since he was eighteen years of age, having come here as a farm hand in 1891, and has gradually worked his way up to his present well-circumstanced condition. He was born on a farm in Effing- ham county, Illinois, January 15, 1873, son of John and Sophia ( Koso) Per- cival, both of whom were of European birth, the former a native of the city of Manchester, England, and the latter of the grand duchy of Mecklenburg- Schwerin, whose last days were spent in Illinois.

John Percival was born on June 28, 1835, and remained in his native England until about 1861, when he came to this country and not long after- ward enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War, serving until his final honorable discharge, after which he located in Effingham county, Illinois, where in the early seventies, he married Mrs. Sophia (Koso) Ma- douse, of that county, widow of Joseph Madouse and mother of Christ. Madouse, a well-known farmer of the precinct of Barada. this county, and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume. After his marriage John Percival continued to make his home in Effingham county, Illinois, and there spent his last days, his death occurring on May 18, 1903. He and his wife were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of this sketch being George, of Effingham county, Illinois: Fred, of that same county; Sophia, wife of I. Bailey, of Coles county Illinois; Mrs. Henry Ruegge, of the precinct of Arago, this county, and one who died in infancy.

Reared on the home farm in Illinois, William Percival received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, when, in 1891, he came to Nebraska and began working as a farm hand in Richardson county, receiving a wage of sixteen dollars a month, and was thus engaged until 1894. when he bought three horses and some other equipment and rented a farm in the precinct of Ohio. this county, and began farming on his own account. The next year he mar- ried and continued farming with such success that in 1911 he was enabled to buy his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in sections 22 and 23 of the precinct of Barada, where he has since made his home and where he and his family are very comfortably situated. Since taking possession of that place, Mr. Percival has erected a fine new modern residence, and an ample barn, and has made other substantial improvements on the place, his

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farm plant now being one of the best in that part of the county. Of late years he has been giving considerable attention to the breeding of Chester White hogs and is doing very well in his operations.

On September 5, 1895, William Percival was united in marriage to Ida Sailors, who was born in the precinct of Barada, this county, May 16, 1872, daughter of William H. Sailors and wife, pioneers of Richardson county and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union seven children have been born, Alfred, Elmer, Elizabeth, Roy, Fern, Theodore and Clark, all of whom are at home. The Percivals have a very pleasant home and take an interested part in the general social activities of their home community. They are members of the Christian church and give proper attention to church works, as well as other neighborhood good works, helpful in promoting all agencies designed to advance the common welfare of the community in which they live.

GRANT L. WINDLE.

Grant L. Windle, laundryman at Falls City and proprietor and man- ager of one of the best-equipped steam laundries in this part of the state, is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident of Richardson county since he was four years of age, having come here with his parents back in pioneer days. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of the town of Polo, in Ogle county, Illinois, September 12, 1868, son of William and Susan V. (Baker) Windle, natives, respectively, of Virginia and of Illinois, who later came to Richardson county and here spent their last days, honored and useful pioneer residents.

William Windle was born at Woodstock, Virginia, in 1843. and was but a child when his parents moved from there to Ogle county, Illinois, where he was reared on a farm and where he was living at the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted for service as a private in the Forty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and with that command went to the front. At the battle of Shiloh Mr. Windle was shot through the breast, the bullet striking just above the heart. When he was able to endure the journey he was furloughed home and after lying in a hospital for several months was given his discharge, but upon recuperating from his wound he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Windle returned to Ogle county and there, in

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1866, married Susan V. Baker, who was born in that county in 1841. After his marriage he established his home on a farm in Ogle county, in the immediate vicinity of Polo, and there remained until the spring of 1872. when he bought a farm in the precinct of Liberty, in this county, and moved his family out here onto an unbroken prairie farin and here established his permanent home. He lost little time in bringing that raw prairie farm under cultivation and it was not long until he came to be recognized as one of the leading farmers in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming he paid considerable attention to the breeding of pure-bred Short- horn cattle and in that line did very well, his stock for twenty years being widely known among exhibitors at the county fairs hereabout. Mr. Windle was an ardent Republican and an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He died in 1901 and his widow survived until 1913. Both are buried in the Steele cemetery at Falls City. They were the parents of nine children, those besides the subject of this sketelı, the first-born, being as follow: Lillian G., wife of C. H. Heckler, of Wakomis, Oklahoma; Marble, wife of N. A. Morgan, of Center, Colorado; Edna I., wife of D. W. Griffith, of Verdon, this county; Charles A., of Salem, this county; Frank E., of Wakomis, Oklahoma; Bert O., of Dur- ango, Colorado, and two who died in infancy.

As noted above Grant L. Windle was four years of age when his parents settled in this county, in 1872, and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Liberty precinct. He received his schooling in the local schools and remained at home, a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home place, until he was twenty-four years of age, when he rented a farm and for a couple of years thereafter was engaged in farming on his own hook. He then, in 1894. recognized the need of a steam laundry in Falls City and in partnership with Wesley Brooks, started such an establishment there, about three months later becon- ing sole proprietor of the same, and has ever since been engaged in that business. As the business developed Mr. Windle has continued to add to his equipment and to his facilities until now he has one of the best-estab- lished and best-equipped steam laundries in this part of the country. When he started in business his plant, which was located in a dwelling house, consisted of a steam washer and extractor, a shirt ironer and a home-made dryer. In May, 1895, his father erected for him a building more serviceable for his laundry and after that building was destroyed by fire in 1908 he erected his present commodious and well-arranged building, equipping the same with a complete and up-to-date plant.

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On August 3, 1898, Grant L. Windle was united in marriage to Clara Culp, who was born in Brown county, Kansas, daughter of Joseph and Charlotte (Hersey) Culp, natives, respectively, of Ohio and of Canada. who came up into Richardson county from Kansas about, 1860 and here Joseph Culp, who was a well-known stock buyer, spent his last days. His widow is now living at Hooper, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Windle have one child, a daughter, Thelma, born in 1900. They are members of the Chris- tian church and take a proper interest in community good works. Mr. Windle is a Republican and has served as a member of the city council. He is affiliated with the Masonic lodge and with the Elks lodge and takes a warm interest in the affairs of both of these organizations.

CONRAD BRECHT.

Conrad Brecht, retired farmer, now living at Falls City, where he and his wife have made their home since moving from their farm in the pre- cinct of Ohio in 1905, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, but has been a resident of Nebraska and of this county since he has ten years of age, his parents having settled here in 1867, the year in which Nebraska was admitted to statehood, and he thus has been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region since pioneer days. He was born on a farm in Waterloo county, in the province of Ontario, Canada, March 22, 1857, son of Carl J. and Susan (Hadley) Brecht, natives of Germany, who became pioneers of this county and here spent the remainder of their lives.

Carl J. Brecht was born in the grand duchy of Baden in 1826 and was there trained to the trade of wagon-maker. When he was about twenty years of age he came to this country and began working at his trade at Buffalo, New York, where he married Susan Hadley, also a native of Germany, born in 1835, and who was but twelve years of age when she came to this country with her parents. Not long after his marriage, Carl J. Brecht moved up over the line into Canada and located in the county of Waterloo, province of Ontario, where he engaged in farming and also continued more or less engaged in working at his trade as a wagonmaker, remaining there for about ten years, or until the fall of 1867, when he returned to the States and settled in the then new state of Nebraska. the · state just having been admitted to the Union in that year, the date of his

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arrival in Richardson county being October 14, 1867. His brother, Bernard Brecht, had previously purchased a tract of land in the northwest corner of the precinct of Jefferson and after his death Carl J. Brecht bought the place ,and there he continued to make his home, developing and improving the farm, until his death ten years later, in 1877, one of the best-known pioneers of that neighborhood. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring on January 9, 1903. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, eight of whom grew to maturity, namely: Charles J., deceased; Con- rad, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Mrs. Caroline Fenske, of Hopkins, this state; Harry, a well-known stockman of Falls City pre- cinct: Fred, of Falls City; Mrs. Catherine Kruse, of Falls City; Peter M., living retired in Falls City, and Mrs. Elizabeth Schmechle, a widow, of Hoskins.

As noted above, Conrad Brecht was ten years of age when he came to this county from Canada with his parents in the fall of 1867 and he grew to manhood on the home farm in the precinct of Jefferson, completing his schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood proving a valuable factor in the labors of developing and improving the home farm. When twenty-one years of age he rented a farm from his mother, his father having died meanwhile, and three years later bought a tract of sixty acres in the precinct of Jefferson, which he proceeded to improve and on which he established his home after his marriage in 1882. He later bought an adjoining "eighty" and continued farming that place until 1892, when he sold it and bought a tract of two hundred and forty acres in section 25 of the precinct of Ohio and moved onto the same, mak- ing extensive improvements on this latter place and there enlarged his opera- tions in the way of raising live stock. Mr. Brecht later bought an adjoin- ing "eighty" in section 36 and is thus the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, a half section, of excellent land and has brought the same up to a high state of development. In 1905 he and his wife left the farm and moved to Falls City, where they have a fine home, but he continued to give his personal attention to the farm until his definite retirement from farming in 1912, though he continues to hold his old home farm. Mr. Brecht is a stockholder in the State Bank of Falls City and is also a shareholder in the Springfield Vinegar Company of Falls City and has other investments of a profitable character. He is a Democrat and has for years given his thoughtful attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

It was on January 26, 1882, in the precinct of Jefferson, this county,

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that Conrad Brecht was united in marriage to Augusta Schmechel, who was born in West Prussia, Germany, April 21, 1862, and who was nine years of age when she came to this country with her parents, John and Justine (Tesmer) Schmechel, who settled in the precinct of Jefferson in this county, in the early seventies, becoming substantial pioneer residents of that part of the county. John Schmechel was born in Prussia on December 12, 1837, and died at his home in this county on July 23, 1907. His widow is now living at Falls City, past ninety years of age, one of the oldest resi- dents of Richardson county. She and her husband were the parents of eleven children, of whom but four grew to maturity. To Mr. and Mrs. Brecht five children have been born, namely: Frank, who is living on the old home place in Ohio precinct and who married Rosa Bertram and has one child, Evelyn Pauline; Mrs. Anna Schindler, also living on the home farm and who has one child, Wilbur Conrad; Elizabeth, wife of Charles C. Davis, postmaster of Falls City, and who also has one child, a daughter, Katherine; Caroline, now deceased, who was the wife of James Stewart and who had one child, Clyde Conrad ; and Alfred, battalion sergeant-major on the staff of Major Herman in the artillery section of the ammunition train with headquarters at Iola, Kansas, and who in the fall of 1917 was transferred to the training camp at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Mrs. Brecht is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Brecht is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and both he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah and of the Royal Highlanders.

REV. PAUL HASLER.

The Rev. Paul Hasler, pastor of St. Ann's Catholic church in Barada precinct, this county, is a man whom everybody knows and esteems in that portion of the county, where he is doing an excellent work. He was born at Muensterberg, province of Silesia, Germany, and he is a son of Joseph and Bertha (Voegel) Hasler, both natives of Germany, where they grew up, attended school and were married. The father was a tradesman in Muensterberg and he is still residing there.

The subject of this review grew to manhood in his native land and studied there at the College of Holy Cross in Silesia, also at the Seminary of St. Gabriel, near Vienna, Austria. He came to America in August, 190' and studied at St. Mary's College, Cincinnati, Ohio. Thus well prepared

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for his chosen life work he was ordained in 1910 at Columbus, Ohio. Soon thereafter he came to Nebraska and took charge of the churches of Gilead and Alexandria, near Hebron. He was later chaplain of St. Thomas's Orphanage, at Lincoln, Nebraska, for one year. He came to Salem, Rich- ardson county, in July, 1914, and has since had charge of St. Ann's church and the Salem church. Father Hasler has proven to be an industrious and conscientious worker, is popular among the members of his parish and has greatly strengthened the work of the church since coming here. He is a scholarly man, unassuming and of genial address.

HENRY E. WYATT.

Henry E. Wyatt, a prosperous farmer and live stock breeder of Falls City precinct, is a native-born citizen of this county, a son of old pioneer residents, who has found Richardson county a good enough place in which to spend his life, and has seen no need to wander from the land of his birth in search of opportunities-there being sufficient inducement for him to remain in his home county and here become a very successful agri- culturist.

Mr. Wyatt was born on a farm one mile east of Falls City, Nebraska, July 13, 1868, on the old Wyatt homestead upon which his father settled in the year 1859. He is a son of Charles and Rebecca (Forney) Wyatt. the former of whom was a native of England and the latter a native of Ohio. Charles Wyatt was born at Sheffield, England, in 1837 and spent his earlier years in his native land, emigrating to America in 1857 and. after a residence of a short time in Illinois, he came to Nebraska in 1859. He bought a farm of eighty acres just east of Falls City, and erected thereon a small frame house, fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions and at once set about improving and breaking up his land. His method of transporta- tion from Illinois was by oxen, driving the long distance. He also used oxen in breaking up his land for cultivation during the first year of his residence here. A few years later he joined one of the "gold rushes" to California and remained employed in the gold mines of the western coast country until 1865, when he returned home and settled down to farming his land. He remained engaged in his farming activities until death claimed him on January 9, 1879. The mother and children resided on the home farm until it was sold in April, 1901.

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Charles Wyatt was married to Rebecca Forney in 1867, and this union was blessed with a family of three sons and two daughters, namely: Henry E., the subject of this review; Mrs. Mary E. Perry, who died at Hop Bot- tom, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Martha Fisher, who lives in Falls City precinct ; William, who lives in Jefferson county, Kansas, and Joseph, who is engaged in farming near Effingham, Atchison county, Kansas. The mother of these children was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, November 26, 1845, and was a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Brenniger) Forney, who became pioneer settlers of the Western country. She died on April 22, 1905.

Joseph Forney, father of Mrs. Charles Wyatt, was born on May 19, 1824, in Ohio, and there married Mary Brenniger of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1851. Soon after his marriage he joined a party of immigrants who were going to the Western country for the purpose of founding homes in the new and rich lands of the unsettled prairie regions. The party made the long journey down the Ohio river by boat and thence up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Severe spring storms weakened the struc- ture of the steamer which was conveying this party of hardy adventurers and the boat was wrecked near the site of St. Joseph. The entire party was forced to land and lived in the open in hastily constructed camps for some time. The exposure was very hard on the weaker members of the party and cholera broke out in virulent form. Many died, among them being the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Forney. This was a sad culmination to the long and arduous journey of six weeks which had been tinged with bright expectations of a home in the new lands which they were seeking. After much delay they again secured a steamboat, which conveyed theni up the Missouri and they made a landing near Oregon, in Holt county, Mis- souri. Not long after landing, Mrs. Forney died as a result of the exposure and hardships to which she had been subjected. Joseph Forney, made a home for his children in Holt county and in 1854 married Louisa Jane Coon, who had come to Missouri from Richland county, Ohio, in company with a brother-in-law and his family, she walking almost the entire distance because of the heavily loaded condition of the wagons which carried her brother-in-law's effects. In the fall of 1855 this pioneer couple came to Nebraska and settled on a farm east of Falls City, where Mr. Forney pros- pered and became well-to-do, and one of the influential men of this county. For a number of years the Forney home was the only residence between Falls City and Rulo and the home was used as a meeting place for the

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Methodist people of the vicinity, both Mr. and Mrs. Forney being stanch members of the Methodist denomination. Sunday schools and revivals were frequently held in the Forney home. Mr. Forney traded a great deal with the Indians and was well liked by them until an incident occurred which caused the wild denizens of the wilderness to shun the Forney home for a long time. Once while on a trip to St. Joseph, Mrs. Forney contracted measles and was left at the home of an Indian. Measles naturally broke out among the red men and their families in a few days, and they became so frightened that they refused to go to the Forney home for a long time, believing that the evil spirit had in some way placed a curse on the place and its occupants. Mr. Forney lived to be eighty-six years old and his wife attained the age of eighty-one yearn. Both are historic characters in the annals of Richardson county.

Henry E. Wyatt, subject of this review, was reared to young manhood · on the Wyatt home farm east of Falls City, assisted with the work of the farm and attended the district school during the intervals between crops. He cultivated the farm for his mother until 1894 and then rented the land on his own account, keeping it well improved and the soil up to standard by judicious rotation of crops. In 1906 he bought his present farm, the old Ewalt place, in section 16, just west of Falls City, which consists of eighty-two acres in Falls City township. This place is well improved, with a nice residence and good buildings, and is within sight and easy walking distance of the city. In connection with his general farming activities, Mr. Wyatt makes a specialty of breeding Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs, a departure which he began in 1895 and is carrying on very success- fully. In addition to his thoroughbred hogs and cattle, Mr. Wyatt keeps a fine flock of White Rock poultry.

On January 11, 1903, Henry E. Wyatt was married to Sallie Whitaker, who was born in Putnam county, Tennessee. April 23, 1868. Further men- tion of the Whitaker family will be found elsewhere in this volume. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt, namely: Bessie, who was graduated from the Falls City high school and is at home with her parents, and Jennings, also at home.

Mr. Wyatt is a Democrat and is more or less active in local political affairs, being one of the leaders of his party in Richardson county and having filled several offices. He served as road supervisor and as chairman of the Falls City precinct board and in 1914 was elected to the office of county supervisor, which position he held until the county goverment was changed so that a board of county commissioners succeeded the supervisors.

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He discharged the duties of these official positions in a faithful and accept- able manner. Fraternally, Mr. Wyatt belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and Mrs. Wyatt are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 129

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