History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 138

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

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Edward Gird was born on March 24, 1788, and his death occurred about 1868. He was a son of Henry and Mary Gird, both natives of Ireland, where they grew up, married and established their future home, dying there.

George Gird, of this memoir, was the second son of Edward Gird and his second wife. He grew up on the farm and received such educational advantages as the early-day schools afforded. On February 27, 1856, he was married in Shelby county, Indiana, to Mary E. Gossett. They moved to .Andrew county, Missouri, in 1858, and from there to Richardson county,

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Nebraska in 1859, being among the early settlers here, and they endured the usual hardships and privations incident to pioneer life on the Western frontier of those days. But Mr. Gird was a man of indomitable energy and courage and he persevered in the face of obstacles until success as a general farmer and stock raiser attended his efforts. He developed an excellent farm from the wild prairie, which he brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation. He finally gave up general farming and moved to the town of Humboldt, where he became joint owner of the Sentinel, which he published for years and under his able management it became one of the best newspapers of its type in the state, gaining a large circulation and wielding a potent influence for good in the general up- building of Richardson and adjoining counties. Mr. Gird also lived at old Middleburg and served as postmaster there for over twenty years. He was active in public and educational affairs in Richardson county and was county commissioner for one term. He also was connected with the Sen- tinel-Press for two years and was active in Republican politics, in fact, was a leader of his party in this county for many years. He belonged to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and was widely and favorably known in southeastern Nebraska, long recognized as one of the leading men in the early days of Richardson county. His death occurred on September 7, 1885, at the age of fifty-three years.

Eight children were born to George and Mary E. (Gossett) Gird. namely : William Gird, an attorney by profession, who married at Hum- holdt, Nebraska, and died at San Barnandino, California, leaving a widow and two daughters; Mrs. Ida D. Spencer, who lives in Wichita, Kansas. and has three children living; George Gird, Jr., who lives at Des Moines, Iowa, where he is a salesman for the King Land and Loan Company; Mrs. Mary L. Bentz, deceased; Edward, who died in Falls City, Nebraska : John, a plumber by trade, who lives in Henrietta, Oklahoma: Arthur, now deceased, who was editor of the journal of the Mid-Western Hotel Keepers Association, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Gertrude O., the wife of John G. Irwin, of Lincoln, Nebraska.

The mother of the above-named children, who was Mary E. Gossett prior to her marriage, was born on May 25, 1839, at Greenfield, Hancock county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Abijah and Susan (Sterns) Gos- sett, the father a native of Highland county, Ohio, and the mother of the state of New York. Abijah Gossett, who was a talented landscape painter and musician, died in Wabash county, Indiana, in 1848, at the early age

(88)

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of forty years. His widow came to Nebraska in 1866 and spent the rest of her life in Richardson county, dying in 1873, at the home of Mrs. Mary E. Gird, with whom she had spent her last years.

After the death of George Gird, his widow married Lyman Whit- comb on August 6, 1902. He was a native of Iowa and was a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting in an Indiana regiment and seeing much hard service in the Union army. He took part in many important engagements in the South, proving to be a brave and efficient soldier, and was honorably discharged after four years of service. He came to Nebraska in 1902 and located at Humboldt. His death occurred at the Soldiers Home at Leaven- worth, Kansas, May 7, 1915. After his death Mrs. Whitcomb retired to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gertrude O. Irwin, at 2952 J street, Lin- coln, Nebraska, where she still resides. She owns valuable town property at Humboldt, including two residences and some business buildings. She is a member of the Christian church and has always been a woman of fine religious culture.

JOHN W. MOONEY.

John W. Mooney, one of Richardson county's most substantial land- owners, former member of the board of county supervisors and for the past seven or eight years actively engaged in the live stock business at Rulo, where he makes his home, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm one mile west of the village of Rulo on January 18, 1867, son of James and Julia (Ryan ) Mooney, natives of Ireland, who became pioneers of this section of Ne- braska, and the former of whom is still living here, one of the well-known and well-to-do old settlers of this county, a continuous resident here since territorial days.

James Mooney was born on May 3. 1833, and when seventeen years of age. in 1850, left the Emerald Isle and came to the United States and began to work as a farm hand in the state of Vermont. He later found employment in various other Eastern states and was variously employed there until 1857, when he came West and started to seek his fortune at Omaha. From that point he worked down the river, chopping wood, and presently reached Leavenworth, where he secured the contract for cutting the timber from Kicapoo Island, remaining there until 1859. when he went to Atchison and became engaged working in a nursery. While there he

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married in 1860 and became engaged in farming in the vicinity of Atchison, remaining there until 1863, when he came up into Nebraska and settled in Richardson county, establishing his home on a farm in Rulo township, one mile west of the village of that name. That was in territorial days and settlement here had not begun to set in in a very steady stream, hence James Mooney was one of the pioneers of the section in which he settled, Indians then being more plentiful thereabout than white persons. He continued to farm a rented tract of land there until about 1872, when he bought a farm. the nucleus of his present extensive land holdings, he now being the owner of about seven hundred acres of fine land in Rulo precinct and continuing to make his home on the old home place, one of the best-known pioneers in Richardson county. His wife died in 1916. She also was born in Ire- land, in 1836, Julia Ryan, daughter of John and Margaret Ryan, also natives of the Emerald Isle, the former of whom died there in 1850. After the death of her husband the widow Ryan came to America with her children, coming by way of Canada, and resided in Illinois until 1859, when she came to Nebraska and settled in Richardson county. To James and Julia (Ryan) Mooney were born five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Thomas, deceased; Anna. widow of J. B. Coryse, of Effingham. Kansas; Margaret, who is at home with her father, and James P., who is farming in Rulo precinct.

Reared on the old farm in the precinct of Rulo, John W. Mooney received his early schooling in the district school in that neighborhood and in the schools at Rulo and in 1888 entered the Christian Brothers College at St. Joseph, where he took the business course. From the days of his boyhood he was an able assistant to his father in the labors of the farm and continued thus employed until 1895, when he rented a tract of land from his father and began farming on his own account. In that same year he bought an "eighty" in the precinct of Rulo and after his marriage in the spring of 1899 established his home there, continuing to make that his place of residence until 1910, when he retired from the farm and moved to the village of Rulo, where he since has made his home, actively engaged in the buying and selling of live stock, one of the best-known stockmen in Richardson county. Mr. Mooney has been quite successful in his farming and stock-raising operations and is now the owner of about six hundred acres of land in Rulo and Jefferson precincts and is a large feeder of cattle and hogs, feeding the same for market and shipping from Rulo. Politically, he is an "independent" Democrat. In 1901 he was elected a member of

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the board of county supervisors from the fifth district and held that position until 1903.

On May 4, 1899. John W. Mooney was united in marriage to Clara Winterbottom, also a native of Richardson county, born at Rulo in the month of May, 1877, daughter of J. S. and Janet ( Thompson) Winterbottom, both of whom were born at Adina, Missouri, and who settled at Rulo in 1865. J. S. Winterbottom was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted for service in the Union army at St. Louis. He died in this county in 1911. at the age of sixty-seven years, and his widow is still living at Rulo, being now past seventy-one years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mooney have six chil- dren, Mary, Janet, James, John, Gregory and Clara. The family are mem- bers of the Catholic church and take an interested part in parish affairs. Mr. Mooney is a member of the local council of the Knights of Columbus at Falls City and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

HENRY C. ZOELLER.

Henry C. Zoeller, proprietor of a fine farm of three hundred acres in the vicinity of Preston, in the precinct of Jefferson, this county, former justice of the peace in and for that precinct and one of the best-known farm- ers and stockmen in that neighborhood, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Arago on January 6, 1867, son of Charles and Ernestine ( Klose ) Zoeller, natives of Prussia, who were married in their native land, later coming to this country and settling at Buffalo, New York, where they remained until 1864, in which year they came with their family to the then Territory of Nebraska and settled in this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneers.

Charles Zoeller wan born on September 17, 1824, and grew to man- hood in his native Prussia, becoming a skilled carpenter. In 1849 he mar- ried Ernestine Klose, who also was born in Prussia, January 17, 1828, and in 1854 came to the United States, locating at Buffalo, New York, where he became engaged in the building trades and where he remained for ten years, or until 1864, when he came to Nebraska and bought a tract of land in the precinct of Arago, this county, where he established his home and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. His death occurred on April 5. 1877, and his widow survived him for many years, her death

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occurring on January 12, 1914. They were the parents of eleven children, three of whom died in infancy, the others being as follow: Oscar, a retired farmer of this county, now living at Falls City; William J., a farmer of the precinct of Jefferson: Mary, wife of C. F. Pribbeno, of Preston, one of Richardson county's most extensive landowners and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume ; Charles F., of Happy, Texas ; Herman, a farmer of the precinct of Falls City; Henry C., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Ida Walker, of Santa Ana, California, and Mrs. Emma Baker, who died at Nebraska City.

Reared on the pioneer farm on which he was born, in the precinct of Arago, Henry C. Zoeller received his schooling in the schools of that neigh- borhood and when eighteen years of age began working on his own account as a farm hand, receiving for such service from ten to twelve dollars a month and reserving three months in the year for school attendance. When twenty-one years of age he bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres in the precinct of Falls City, which farm is now a part of the Brecht estate. and a couple of years later, in 1890, traded that place for his present home farm in section 28 of the precinct of Jefferson. In 1891 Mr. Zoeller mar- ried and established his home on this latter place and there has resided ever since, he and his family being very comfortably situated. They have a fine, modern eight-room house, with gas lights, furnace and hot and cold run- ning water, and the farm plant is in keeping with the same. Mr. Zoeller has three hundred acres of well-improved and profitably cultivated land. one of the best-kept places in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming Mr. Zoeller has for years given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well with Shorthorn cattle, mixed Duroc and Poland China hogs and mules. He has a three-acre orchard and his place is well equipped with all the latest appliances for successful agricul- ture. Mr. Zoeller is a Republican and has served the public in the capacity of justice of the peace in and for his home precinct.

On August 25, 1891, Henry C. Zoeller was united in marriage to Martha Shelly, of this county, who was born in the state of Pennsylvania on July 6, 1873, daughter of Philip and Lavina (Shutt) Shelly, who became residents of this county years ago and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union four children have been born, Rhine, who is farming in Jefferson precinct, and Herbert, Beulah and Ralph, at home. The Zoellers have a very pleasant home and take an interested part in the community's general social activities. Mr. Zoeller is a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Rulo and takes an active interest in Masonic affairs.

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JOHN H. BAUER.

John H. Bauer, one of Richardson county's well-known farmers and stockmen and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the precinct of Ohio, was born in that precinct and has lived there all his life, at present owning a part of the parental acres in that precinct, the place where his parents settled back in pioneer days. He was born there on February 19, 1875, son of Joachim and Mary (Telk) Bauer, prominent pioneers of that section and the latter of whom is still living.

Joachim Bauer was of European birth, a Mecklenburger, born on April 10, 1833, who came to this country in the days of his young manhood and after a sometime residence in Illinois came to Nebraska and settled on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Ohio, this county, becoming one of the substantial farmers and landowners of that part of the county. He developed an excellent piece of property there and there spent his last days, his death occurring in 1908. His widow, who still survives him, is now making her home with her youngest son, Herman Bauer, in Ohio precinct, she now being in the eightieth year of her age. To Joachim Bauer and wife were born seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Eliza, wife of William Geb- hard, of Ohio precinct: Joseph, now a resident of Texas; Mary, wife of .1. Gebhard, of Verdon, this county: Mrs. Louisa Harkendorff, of the pre- cinct of Ohio, and Henry and Herman, both well-known farmers of that same precinct.

Reared on the home farm in the precinct of Ohio, John H. Bauer received his schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood and in St. Paul's German Lutheran school and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father and brothers in the labors of developing and improving the home acres. When twenty-one years of age he rented a tract of land from his father and began farming on his own account and after his marriage a year later established his home on that place. Two years later, in 1899, he bought the place from his father and has ever since made his home there, he and his family being very comfortably situ- ated. He built a modern house, set out trees and made other improvements until now he has one of the best farm plants in that part of the county. Mr. Bauer is the owner of two hundred and forty acres lying in sections + and 6 and is doing well in his farming operations. In 1916 he began to engage somewhat more extensively in the breeding of Hereford cattle, with a view to holding stock sales, the leaders of his herd being "Sequel 483489."

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bred by J. J. Early, of Baring, Missouri. Mr. Bauer is a Democrat and has ever taken an interested part in local political affairs, always interested in movements having to do with the advancement of the general welfare of his home community.

On February 25, 1897, John H. Bauer was united in marriage to Mary Grossoehmig, who was born in the kingdom of Saxony on August 13, 1875. and who was but seven years of age when she came to this country with her parents, Edward and Helen (Laudenbauch) Grossoehmig, also natives of Saxony, the family settling in the precinct of Barada, in this county. Edward Grossoehmig and wife are now living in the precinct of Ohio, well- known old settlers of Richardson county. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer have three children, Walter, Edward and Howard. They are members of the Lutheran church and have ever taken an interested part in church work and other neighborhood good works. They have a pleasant home and give proper attention to the general social activities of their home community.

ERNEST ZIMMERMANN.

Ernest Zimmermann, one of Arago precinct's well-known and progres- sive farmers, who is farming a fine place of one hundred and twenty acres belonging to his father in section 28 of that precinct, was born on that farm and has lived there all his life. He was born on July 3, 1879, son of Louis and Mollie Almira (Reschke) Zimmermann, natives of the grand duchy of Baden, who became pioneers of this county and the former of whom is still living here, now a resident of Falls City, where his wife died in September, 1916, she then being seventy-two years of age. They were the parents of eight children, of whom four are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Gust. and Godfrey, farmers of Arago precinct. and Emma, wife of P. Baker, also a farmer of that precinct.

Reared on the pioneer farm on which he was born, Ernest Zimmermann received his schooling in the schools of district No. 28 and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid in the labors of improving and developing the home place. When. twenty-one years of age he began farming on his own account, renting a part of the home farm from his father, and after his marriage in the fall of 1906 established his home there and has ever since resided there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Zimmermann gives considerable atten-

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tion to the raising of high-grade live stock, with particular reference to Shorthorn cattle and Hampshire hogs, and is doing very well.

On October 25, 1906, Ernest Zimmermann was united in marriage to Mary Hartmann, who was born in the precinct of Jefferson, this county, July 1. 1887, daughter of Frederick and Katherine ( Singer ) Hartmann, who were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters. After the death of Frederick Hartmann his widow married Benjamin N. Kopf and is still living in Jefferson precinct. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmermann have one child, a son, Edward B., born on June 2, 1908. They are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and take an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works of their community. Mr. Zim- mermann is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local politi- cal affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

WILLIAM L. LIETZKE.

William L. Lietzke, one of the well-known farmers of Arago precinct, this county, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of this country since he was thirteen years of age and of Richardson county since he was seventeen, having come here with his parents in 1885, the family settling in the precinct of Arago, where he ever since has made his home. He was born in Prussia on October 25, 1868, son of Henry and Adaline (Fromke) Lietzke, also natives of Prussia, the former born on February 28, 1841. and the latter, March 30, 1839, who came to this country with their family in 1881 and settled in New York state, where they remained until 1885. in which year they came to Nebraska and settled in Arago precinct, this county. Henry Lietzke, bought a farm upon his arrival here and spent the rest of his active life farming. He died in 1911 and his widow is still living, now a resident of the village of Barada, where she is making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Heine. To Henry Lietzke and wife were born seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Albert, who is still a resident of his native land; Charles, who is living at Syracuse, New York; Otto, of Shu- bert. this county; Mrs. Emma Portner, of Jefferson precinct, this county; Mrs. Henrietta Heine, of Barada, and Mrs .. Alvine Fink, deceased.

As noted above, William L. Lietzke was thirteen years of age when he came to this country from Prussia with his parents and was seventeen

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when he came with them from New York state to Richardson county. He completed his schooling in the schools of this county and remained at home, a valued help in the labors of the home farm, until his marriage in the sun- mer of 1890, when he rented a farm in Arago precinct and began farming on his own account. In 1911 he bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section 8 of that precinct and has since made his home there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Since taking possession of that farm Mr. Lietzke has made numerous substantial improve- ments on the same and has a very well-kept farm plant and is doing well.

On July 30, 1890, William L. Lietzke was united in marriage to Bertha Fricke, who was born in this county on December 27, 1871, daugh- ter of August and Dora (McKoel) Fricke, natives of Germany and pio- neers of Richardson county and the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Falls City, and to this union have been born six children, August, Walter, Bertha, Anna, Clarence and Dora, all of whom are at home. The Lietzkes are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper part in local church work as well as in the general social activities of their home neigh- borhood.

WILLIAM HERBSTER.

William Herbster, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres of excellent land in section 9 of the precinct of Arago, this county, and one of the best-known farmers in that part of the county, is of European birth, but has been a resident of Richardson county since he was twelve years of age. He was born in the grand duchy of Baden on September 6, 1868, son of Fred and Caroline (Branch) Herbster, and is the youngest child of that parentage.

Fred Herbster and his wife also were natives of Baden, the former born on September 1, 1840, and the latter on June 26, 1840. In 1881 they came to the United States with their family and proceeded on out to Nebraska, settling in the old village of Arago, this county. Fred Herbster was a shoemaker in his native land and during the first two winters speut at Arago he worked at that trade, spending his summers on the farm he had bought in the precinct of that name. He eventually had his home farm under cultivation and gradually developed a good piece of property there in section 9, spending the remainder of his life on that place, his death

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occurring in 1900. His widow survived him for about eight years, her death occurring in 1908.

As noted above, William Herbster was twelve years of age when he came to this county with his parents from his native Baden and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Arago precinct, completing his schooling in the local schools, and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of improving and developing the home place. At the death of his father he became heir to twenty acres of the old home place and he afterward bought the rest of the place and has since been the owner of the same, a fine tract of one hundred and forty acres in section 9 of the precinct of Arago, on which he has made excellent improvements and where he is quite successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, long having been regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that section. Politically, Mr. Herbster is a Republican; by religious per- suasion, a Lutheran, and takes a proper interest in the political, religious and social affairs of his home community, helpful in promoting all causes having to do with the advancement of the general welfare of that neighbor- hood in which he has lived since the days of his boyhood.

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 138

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