History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 80

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

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to his other activities, Mr. Loree is a member of the Richardson county bar, having been admitted to the practice of law in 1883.

Mr. Loree was married on February 16, 1882, to Miss Emelie Lange, who was born in Wisconsin, April, 1857, and is a daughter of Frederick and Caroline Lange, natives of Germany.

Politically, Charles Loree is a Democrat of the "old school" of democracy, although he has progressed with his party and taken an active and influential part in the affairs of the Democratic party in Richardson county and Nebraska since he cast his first vote. He has taken part in every state convention held in Nebraska since statehood was established and served as the chairman of the Democratic executive committee in the county in 1916. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; the Knights of Pythias; the Modern Woodmen of America; the Royal Highlanders: the Benevolent and Patriotic Order of Elks; the Fraternal Order of Eagles: the German Society, "Deutsche Geschellschaft"; the Inde- pendent Order of Red Men, of which society he has filled the exalted office of grand sachem of the Nebraska tribes.

ALBERT EBEL.

Albert Ebel, one of the substantial farmers of the precinct of Arago in this county, owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 16 of that precinct and former clerk and former treasurer of his home precinct, was born at St. Joseph, Missouri, August 15, 1873, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Kohler) Ebel, who became pioneers of Richardson county and here spent their last days.

Henry Ebel was a native of Germany, born in the town of Grabow, February 5, 1844, and grew to manhood in his native land, there learning the trade of carpenter and remaining there until he had attained his majority. when, in 1865, he came to the United States and proceeded on out to the then Territory of Nebraska and settled in this county, later going to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he began working at his trade, and where he was married on October 22, 1872, to Elizabeth Kohler, a native of the Republic of Switzerland, born on April 5, 1851, who had accompanied her parents to this country, the family settling at St. Joseph. In the meantime Henry Ebel had entered a small tract of land in the precinct of Jefferson, this county, and after awhile returned here and for a time made his home on that farm, later

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moving to Atchison, Kansas, where he worked at his trade for three years, at the end of which time he returned to his farm in this county and settled down to improve and develop the same, and here he spent the remainder of his life, becoming one of the substantial farmers of that part of the county. He died on December 13, 1911, and his widow survived him but one day more than seven months, her death occurring on July 14, 1912. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first- born, the others being as follow: Charles, a farmer in Brown county, Kansas; Mrs. Lizzie Caston, of Jefferson precinct, this county; Mrs. Lena Hartman, of the precinct of Rulo; Mrs. Henrietta Zimmerman, of Jefferson precinct, and Henry, who is farming with his brother, Charles, in Kansas.

Reared on the home farm in Jefferson precinct, Albert Ebel received his schooling in the local schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home place and has continued farming ever since, now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 16 of the precinct of Arago, which he bought in 1907 and on which he since has made his home, he and his family being very comfortably situated there. In addition to his general farming Mr. Ebel gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and is doing very well in his operations. Politically, he is a Republican and for fifteen years has been a member of the school board. He also served for two years as precinct treasurer and three years as clerk of the precinct and in other ways has done his part in the public service of the community in which he has lived since the days of his boyhood.

On February 9, 1899, Albert Ebel was united in marriage to Mary Hunker, who was born in Osborne county, Kansas, September 10, 1875. «laughter of Jacob and Mary (Meier) Hunker, who became residents of Richardson county in 1877 and here spent the remainder of their lives. Jacob Hunker was born in Wittenburg, Germany, October 12, 1837, and in 1867 came to this country and located at Horton, Kansas, in the vicinity of which place he began farming and where, in 1868, he married Mary Meier, who was born at Glallfelden, in Zurich, Switzerland, December 24, 1850. Not long after his marriage Jacob Hunker moved to Osborne county, Kansas, and there remained until he came to this county and here established his home in 1877, becoming a substantial farmer in the precinct of Arago, where he remained until his retirement from the farm and removal to Falls City, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there on February 14, 1915. His wife had died many years before, her death occurring on December 18, 1880, a little more than three years after the family settled in this county.

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To Albert and Mary (Hunker) Ebel five children have been born, Amos, Walter, Louis, Elsie and Alma. Mr. and Mrs. Ebel are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work as well as in the general social activities of the community in which they live.

RICHARD C. JAMES.

Richard C. James, one of the best-known attorneys-at-law at Falls City, county attorney for Richardson county and a veteran of the Spanish- American War, is a native of the old Blue Grass state, but has been a resi- dent of this state since he was a child. He was born at Maretburg, in Rock- castle county, Kentucky, October 14, 1879, son of Lafayette and Margaret (Lewis) James, natives of that same state and the former of whom was a school teacher. Mrs. James died in 1881 and Mr. James died in the follow- ing year.

Thus left an orphan when he was three years of age, Richard C. James was taken in charge by his maternal uncle, John Lewis, who then was living in Illinois and who later entered a claim to a tract of land in Holt county, this state, and there established his home. On that homestead farm of his uncle Richard C. James lived until he was fourteen years of age, when he began to make his own way in the world. As a means of com- pleting his schooling he secured the position of janitor of the high school building at Dunbar, going to school there during the winters and working on farms during the summers, and was graduated from the high school in 1895. During the winter of 1895-96, he then being but seventeen years of age, he taught school and in the following spring entered the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and was pursuing his studies there when the Spanish- American War broke out in 1898. He enlisted for service as a private in Company D. First Regiment, Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, and with that command was sent to the Philippine Islands, taking part in the campaign about Manila and in the defeat of Aguinaldo's army. At the battle of Quingna in 1899 Mr. James were severely wounded and was later sent back to the United States in a hospital ship, afterward being mustered out with his regiment at San Francisco.

Upon being mustered out of the service Mr. James returned to Ne- braska and resumed his studies in the State University, from the classical department of which he was graduated in 1902, with the degree of Bachelor

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of Arts. He then entered the law department of the university and was graduated from the same in 1904, in which year he came to this county and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Humboldt. In the fall of that year he was elected county attorney and moved his office to Falls City, the county seat. So satisfactory did his services in that impor- tant official capacity prove that he was re-elected in 1906 and continued to serve as county attorney until January 1, 1909. In the spring of that year Mr. James moved to Omaha and was there engaged in the practice of his profession for a year, at the end of which time he returned to Falls City and resumed his practice in that city, which ever since has been his place of residence and where he has done very well, being now one of the best- known lawyers in this part of the state. In 1916 Mr. James was again elected to the office of county attorney and is now serving his third term in that capacity. He is a firm advocate of law enforcement sed his vigoroxs prosecution of violations of the liquor law made him many friends through- out the county. Mr. James is an ardent Democrat and is regarded as one of the leaders of that party in Richardson county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and, fraternally, is affiliated with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

Mr. James were married on April 28, 1917, at Falls City, to Mrs. Leona (Garrett ) Lyon, a widow, and daughter of James H. Garrett, county superintendent of schools of Hooker county, Nebraska, a position which he has held for a number of years.

AUGUST B. BECKER.

August B. Becker, one of Arago precinct's substantial landowners and one of the most progressive farmers of Richardson county, owner of more than three hundred acres in his home precinct and the proprietor of one of the best-kept farms in the eastern part of the county, his home being a bit over nine miles northeast of Falls City, is of European birth, but has been a resi- dent of this country and of Nebraska since the days of his young manhood. and has done. well in his operations since his arrival here back in 1876, in what was regarded even then as pioneer days. He was born in the grand duchy of Baden on February 27, 1852, son of William and Elizabeth (Redel ) Becker, also natives of Baden, the former born in 1819 and the latter in

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1822, who came to this country in 1878, their elder children having preceded them here, and settled on a farm in the precinct of Arago, this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the former dying in 1892 and the latter in 1895. William Becker was a knifesmith in his native land, but after coming here became a substantial farmer. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Prof. William Becker, teacher of Ger- man in Eden College at St. Louis, Missouri; Herman Becker, a farmer in the vicinity of Verdon, this county ; Mrs. Mary Reschke, of the precinct of Arago; Mrs. Lydia Reschke, of the precinct of Jefferson: Charles, who is still living in his native land, and Mrs. Anna Schroedel, of Washington county, Illinois.

Reared in his native Baden, August B. Becker received his schooling there and there learned the trade of knifesmith, becoming a skilled and effi- cient cutler. He remained in his native land until he was twenty-four years of age, when, in 1876, he came to this country, coming over on the sailing vessel "Moss," which was only two weeks in making the voyage. His objec- tive point was Nebraska, he having been in previous correspondence with others from Baden who had settled in Richardson county, and when he arrived in this county his slender supply of cash had been reduced to twenty- five dollars. For a time after his arrival here Mr. Becker worked as a farm hand and then rented a farm in Arago precinct and was engaged in farming during the period of the grasshopper scourge on the plains, a not very encour- aging experience to a newcomer. He bought his present home farm in 1884 and after his marriage in the spring of 1879 he established his home on the farm and has ever since been engaged in farming and stock raising, long having been regarded as one of the leading farmers and stockmen in that part of the county. Mr. Becker now owns a very well-improved farm of one hundred and ninety-five acres in section 16 of the precinct of Arago and is also the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section 25 of that precinct. He has a fine house and an excellent farm plant, situated about the center of his home place, and he and his family are very pleasantly and very comfortably situated there. The Lutheran church and cemetery are located on his farm. Mr. Becker is a practical farmer and an extensive breeder of Shorthorn cattle and has done very well in his operations. He has taken an interested part in the general civic affairs of his home community ever since acquiring citizenship here and for some time served as a member of the local school board. He and his family are members of the Evangeli- cal Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in other

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neighborhood good works and in the general social activities of their home community.

On April 17, 1879, August B. Becker was united in marriage to Lydia Sholl, who was born in New York on December 21, 1860, daughter of Philip and Lizzie (Kolsch) Sholl, natives of Germany, who came to this country in 1847 and to Richardson county about 1862, becoming substantial pioneers of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Becker thirteen children have been born, namely : Philip, who is the owner of an eighty-acre farm in section 32 of Arago precinct ; August, also a farmer in that same precinct; Henry, who is now a resident of the state of California; Ludwick, of Arago precinct ; Lydia, who is at home; Ida, now living in Illinois; William, of Kansas City, Mis- souri, and Anna, Christina, Otto, Albert and John, at home, and Bernard, deceased.

JOHN FINDLAY.

John Findlay, a well-known stockman and farmer, living in Porter precinct, Richardson county, was born on October 6, 1865, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, the son of Hiram and Christena (Stinley) Findlay, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Germany, who settled in this county about forty-two years ago.

When Hiram Findlay came to Richardson county he settled in Ohio precinct, two miles north of Falls City, remaining there until 1881, when he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 12, Porter pre- cinct. This land was raw prairie and he set to work to reclaim it and presently had a portion of it under crops, at the same time dealing in live stock. As he went along he made extensive improvements on his holding and continued farming to the end of his life. Christena (Stinley) Findlay left Germany when a child of four years old. Mr. and Mrs. Findlay became the parents of the following children: Mrs. Blair, deceased; John, Harvey, living on West Muddy precinct; William, who lives in Porter precinct; Frank, living in Porter precinct; Frank, living in Porter pre- cinct; Evora, the wife of J. Waller and lives at Nemaha, this state; Mrs. Laura Miles, living in Dawson, Nebraska, and one who died in infancy. The parents were members of the Lutheran church and the children were reared in that faith.

John Findlay, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm and was ten years old when he came to this county with his parents. At the

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age of twenty-three he began working for himself and rented land for one year, at the end of which time he bought his present farm. The land was broken but there were no improvements. He carried out all necessary improvements and now has his place well cultivated and he has prospered in his farm work and also as a breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs.

On October 27, 1891, John Findlay was united in marriage to Laura Gunnison, daughter of Aquilla and Mosell (Peck) Gunnison, natives of New Hampshire and Wisconsin, respectively, who came to Nemaha and settled in an early day. To Mr. and Mrs. Findlay the following children have been born: Frank, who lives in Nemaha; Mrs. Evelyn Werth, resid- ing at Cedar Rapids. Iowa, and John, Joseph and Edwin at home with their parents.

Mr. Findlay, his wife and children are members of the Lutheran church. He votes independently in political affairs, but has never been a seeker after office. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Stella, Nebraska.

JOY MI. NIMS.

One of the most progressive of Richardson county's younger farmers and stockmen is Joy N. Nims, of "Cardinal Stock Farm," Humboldt, a man whose motto seems to have ever been to do promptly and well what- ever was worth doing. He was born at the town where he still resides, September 10, 1877. He is a son of William Nims, who was born June 21. 1843, and died on June 6, 1909. The latter was a son of Luther Nims, a native of New York state, and he was a son of Ruel Nims. Luther Nims emigrated to Waupun, Wisconsin, and there William Ninis was born. The last named came to Nebraska in 1867, and here, in partnership with his. brother, Ruel, opened the first store in Humboldt, Richardson county, under the firm name of Ruel Nims & Company. The first year they were in busi- ness they hauled their goods from St. Joseph, Missouri. Luther Nims also located at Humboldlt, building one of the first homes in the town, also built the Central Hotel, the first in Humboldt. The stone store building which Rnel Nims & Company erected here is still standing. They continued in the mercantile business here until the early eighties, at which time they went to Gray's Harbor, Washington, where they opened a mercantile establishment in 1883. Returning to Richardson county in 1886, William Nims engaged in farming south of Humboldt, but made his home in the village. In 1897

Joy M. Mimo

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lie went to California and again launched out in mercantile pursuits. He bought and sold bankrupt stocks of goods in Oregon and Washington, mak- ing his headquarters at Portland. His death occurred in Seattle, Washing- ton, in 1909.

The mother of the subject of this sketch was known in her maidenhood as Sarah A. Morden. She was born in Canada, September 19, 1851; was married in 1874 and died, April 30, 1897, in Humboldt, leaving three chil- dren, namely: Joy M., of this sketch; Grace, a graduate of Leland Stanford University, who was the wife of Prof. J. G. Brown, a member of the faculty of Leland Stanford University, of Palo Alto, California, died in 1916; Lee, born in 1881, died in 1903 in Portland, Oregon.

Joy M. Nims brought the bodies of his father and brother back to Hum- boldt for interment in the family lot in the local cemetery. He received a common-school education and graduated from Leland Stanford University of California in 1905 with Bachelor of Arts degree and he was associated with his father in all his undertakings. He has been very successful. as a general farmer and stock raiser and now owns a finely improved and pro- ductive farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Richardson county, known as the "Cardinal Stock Farm," south of Humboldt and adjoining the city. On his place is to be found two complete and substantial sets of buildings- one mile south of town. In connection with general farming he is a breeder of pure-bred Poland China hogs of the big type. He keeps an average drove of two hundred head, and has raised and marketed as high as four hundred head annually. He is one of the best-informed hog raisers in the county and has splendid success with them. Owing to their superior qualities he finds a very ready market for his swine. Everything about his place indicates good management.

Mr. Nims was married on December 10, 1913, to Effie Richards, who was born at Blue Springs, Nebraska, where she spent her childhood and attended school. She is a daughter of J. T. and Mary (Parsons) Richards, who are now residents of Humboldt. Mr. Richards was formerly engaged in the hotel business, but is now farming. Mr. Nims' mother was a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Humboldt. She came to Hum- boldt in 1867 and established the first millinery store in the village.

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nims, namely: Richard WV., born December 26, 1914, and Lee, born May 25. 1916.

Politically, Mr. Nims is a Republican but is inclined to be independent. Fraternally, he helongs to the Woodmen of the World.

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JOHN WILLIAM HELLMANN.

John William Hellmann, well-known and substantial farmer and stock- man of Richardson county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in section 22 of the precinct of Arago and of a quarter of a section of land in Morris county, Kansas, is of European birth, but has been a resident . of this country and of Richardson county since he was seventeen years of age. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Osnabruck, capital of the dis- trict of that name, in the then kingdom of Hanover, April 4, 1866, son of Christ and Mary (Nolte) Hellmann, also Hanoverians, who came to the United States with their children in 1883 and proceeded on out to Nebraska, arriving in Richardson county on August 5 of that year. About three years after his arrival here Christ Hellmann bought a sixty-acre farm in the pre- cinct of Arago, there established his home and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, influential pioneers of that section of the county. Christ Hellmann was born on July 13. 1833, and died on December 17, 1901. His wife was born on November 6, 1828, and died on November 27, 1899. They were married on December 19, 1863, and were the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being Mary, wife of H. Zimmerman, of the precinct of Arago, and Anna. deceased.

As noted above, John William Hellmann was seventeen years of age when he came from his native Hanover with his parents in 1883 and settled in this county. As the only son of the family he was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm in Arago precinct and at the same time, during the winters, thoughtfully pursued his studies in the district schools of that neighborhood, supplementing the same by a further course in the high school at Falls City, preparing himself for teaching, after which he taught school and in 1893 began teaching school in the district schools of this county and was thus engaged until 1898, mean- while continuing his farming operations during the summers on a farm he had rented and after 1898 gave his whole attention to the farm. On July I, 1900, Mr. Hellmann bought the northwest quarter of section 22 in the pre- cinct of Arago and after his marriage in the following October established his home there and has ever since resided on that place, that quarter section having been the nucleus of his present well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of two hundred and forty acres in that section. In 1916 Mr. Hellmann sold an "eighty" of his landholdings in this county and bought the southwest quarter of section 29, in Parker township, Morris county, Kansas, which

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he is beginning to develop in admirable shape. His home farm plant is arranged with a view to the greater convenience and efficiency of manage- ment, his operations being carried on in accordance with modern methods of agriculture. He is a Republican and has ever given his thoughtful and intelli- gent attention to local civic affairs. From 1892 to 1900 he served as clerk of the precinct of Arago, was also for some time justice of the peace in and for that precinct and has also served as assessor and as overseer of highway construction.

On October 10, 1900, John William Hellmann was united in marriage to Elizabeth Redeker, also a Hanoverian, born near the city of Osnabruck on April 13, 1874, and who was but nine years of age when she came to this country with her parents, Herman and Katherine (Kahle) Redeker, in Sep- tember, 1883, the family settling in Atchison county, Missouri. Herman Redeker and his wife are still living over in Atchison county, residents of the Westboro neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Hellmann have five children, Carl and Walter, who are students at St. Paul Lutheran College at Concordia, Missouri, and Minnie, William and Fred. The Hellmanns are members of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church and Mr. Hellmann is the present secretary of the congregation, both he and his wife taking an active interest in church affairs, as well as in the general good works and social activities of the community in which they live and to whose welfare they are so devoted. Mr. Hellmann has one of the finest private libraries in his section of the county. He is a constant reader and student, who keeps abreast of the times, and keeps himself well informed on literary and educational matters.

FREDERICK E. NITZSCHE.

Frederick E. Nitzsche, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acre. in section 23 of the precinct of Arago and one of the best-known residents of that part of Richardson county, is a native of the great Empire state, but has been a resident of this county since he was two years of age, with the excep- tion of four or five years in the latter eighties and early nineties spent in home- steading in Logan county, Kansas. He was born in the city of Buffalo, New- York, August 30, 1856, son of Frederick and Augusta Nitzsche, natives of the kingdom of Saxony, the former born on January 21, 1820, and the latter, June 21, 1823, who were married in their native land and in 1851 came to the United States, locating in the city of Buffalo, where they remained until

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 80

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