History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 92

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

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Paul Hessler spent his boyhood in Buffalo, New York, where he attended the public schools and there learned the harness-maker's trade, beginning his apprenticeship in July, 1869. He came to Nebraska in 1870, but returned to Buffalo in the fall of 1873, where he spent three years, returning to Nebraska in July, 1876. After working at his trade in Falls City for three months he turned his attention to farming, which occupation he followed four years; then went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he followed his trade four years, after which he again took up farming for another four years, then located in Falls. City and has since devoted his attention to the harness business. His present business was first established in the year 1886 by Joe Bateman. He was joined on January 1, 1888, by Mr. Hessler, of this sketch, who bought a partnership. On May 20, 1889, Mr. Hessler bought his partner's interest and has since conducted the business alone, making a great success. By industry and good management he has increased the business from five thou- sand dollars a year to thirteen thousand dollars a year. He is not only a highly skilled workman, but is a man of sound business judgment and execu- tive ability. His customers are to be found all over the southeastern part of the state. He has occupied the same quarters at 1711 Stone street since June 29, 1890. He employs three efficient harness-makers. His stock of goods ranges in value from five thousand dollars to eight thousand dollars. That

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he has dealt with his scores of customers in an honest and courteous manner is indicated by the fact that many of his best customers have been with him since the early years of his business career in Falls City.

Mr. Hessler was married on April 19, 1886, to Anna Schimpf, who was born in Buffalo, New York, in September, 1855. She is a daughter of Emil Schimpf and wife, both natives of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Hessler one child has been born, Gertrude, who was reared and educated in Falls City and is still at home with her parents, the family residence at Main and McLean streets being an attractive one and known for its genuine old time hospitality.

Politically, Mr. Hessler is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Rebekahs, Encampment and other subordinate lodges. He has always done his share in boosting his home city and is regarded by all as one of its best citizens.

HENRY SIEMERING.

Henry Siemering, former member of the board of county supervisors of Richardson county and a well-known and substantial retired farmer, owner of a fine farm of a quarter of a section of excellent land in the pre- cinct of East Barada, now living in Barada village, where he and his family are very comfortably situated, is a native of the neighboring state of Mis- souri. but has been a resident of this county since the days of his early childhood, having come over here with his parents in 1866, and has thus been a witness to the development of this region since territorial days. He was born in Pike county, Missouri, the scene of John Hay's "Pike County Ballads," and the home of Jim Bludso and other bold and adventurous spirits of an earlier day, December 26, 1863. son of Henry and Lizzie (Wyland) Siemering, the former a Hanoverian and the latter a native of the state of Illinois, who came over into the then Territory of Nebraska in 1866 and settled in Richardson county, where both spent their last days, the latter dying in 1888 and the former surviving until July 19, 1912. After the death of his first wife the pioneer Henry Siemering married again and his widow is still living in this county, now a resident of the village of Barada.

The senior Henry Siemering was born in Hanover, Germany, on January 8, 1833, and was twenty years of age when he left his native land and came to this country, landing at the port of New Orleans after a voyage

HENRY SIEMERING.

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of ninety-three days. Upon his arrival there he found employment in that city, but in 1854 came up the river and located at St. Louis, where he learned the cooper's trade, later moving up into Pike county, Missouri, where he engaged in the cooperage business, making flour barrels, and where he remained until in May, 1866, when he came over into the then Territory of Nebraska with his family and bought a farm of eighty acres in the Barada half-breed strip, in this county, and there established his home, building a log house and settling down to improve and develop the tract. It was a timber tract on which he settled and it was no small task to clear the same, but he soon had a clearing and it was not long until he was well established on his pioneer farm. As he prospered in his operations Henry Siemering added to his holdings until he became the owner of five hundred acres of valuable land in that precinct. As one of the pioneer settlers of that part of the county he helped organize the school district and in other ways was helpful in the development of the early interests of the county. He was a member of the Lutheran church and did his part in the organization of a church in the neighborhood of his home. The senior Henry Siemering was twice married, his first wife, Lizzie Wyland, who was born at Peoria, Illinois, January 2, 1842, dying in 1888. He married, secondly, Emma Kuker, who is still living, a resident of the village of Barada, and that union was without issue. By his first marriage he was the father of twelve chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow: John, died in infancy; William, of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Josephine, now deceased, who was the wife of W. H. Lemon; Mary, who was the wife of J. Dodson and who died in Montana; Rosa, deceased : Louisa, deceased : Emma, deceased; Fred W., a farmer, of Barada precinct : Charles, deceased; Louis, of Mound City, Missouri, and Mrs. Sophia Lietzke, of Barada precinct.

As noted above, the junior Henry Siemering was but three years of age when his parents came over into Nebraska and settled in this county and he grew to manhood on the pioneer farm in Barada, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued assistant in the labors of developing and improving the home place and he remained at home until his marriage in 1887, he then being twenty- three years of age, when he rented a farm and began farming on his own account. In 1897 he bought a quarter of a section of unimproved land in section 30 of East Barada precinct, built a house and barn on the same and made other improvements and there continued to make his home, success- fully engaged in general farming, until his retirement from the active labors

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of the farm in 1916 and removal to the village of Barada, where he has a comfortable home and sixteen lots. Mr. Siemering is a Democrat and in 1895 and 1896 was elected assessor of his precinct. In 1899 he again was elected assessor and in 1907 was elected a member of the board of county supervisors from his district and was re-elected to that office at the next election, thus holding office on the supervisors board for four years.

On March 24. 1887, Henry Siemering was united in marriage to Minnie Kuker, who was born in the precinct of East Barada, this county, April 3. 1868, a daughter of Louis and Emma (Buchmann) Kuker, natives of Germany and pioneers of this county, and to this union eight children have been born, namely: Mrs. Emma Gerdes, of the precinct of Barada; Charles H .. who is farming the home place: Mrs. Lulu Sailors, of the pre- cinct of East Barada; Amanda and Ella, deceased, and Edwin W., Lizzie and Arthur J., at home. The Siemerings are members of the Lutheran church and have ever taken an interested part in church work, as well as in other local good works and in the general social activities of their home community.

SAMUEL H. BAYNE.

It is always a badge of honor to have served our great country during the crisis of the early sixties, in preserving the Union, and we, of this generation, should show every mark of respect such a veteran as Samuel H. Bayne, now living in retirement in Falls .City, Richardson county. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 3. 1836. He is a son of Robert Bayne, whose birth occurred in the city of Philadelphia in 1800, of German descent, his ancestors having come to America in Colonial times; the original spelling of the name was Behn. The death of Robert Bayne occurred at the age of sixty-two years; he was a shoemaker by trade. He moved from the Quaker City, in 1840, to Newark, Delaware, where his death occurred in 1862, his death being due to fever and exposure while on a visit to an army camp in Virginia during the Civil War. His son, Nathaniel, was a soldier in the Federal ranks and the father had gone there to aid him, the son having been taken prisoner and escaped. The grandmother of the sub- ject of this sketch lived to he ninety-eight years old. His mother, who was known in her maidenhood as Anne Duncan, was born in Philadelphia in 1804 and died in 1874 in Wilmington, Delaware. She was a daughter of William Duncan, who was of Scotch descent, and who was the keeper of

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the Sandy Hook lighthouse in an early day. To Robert and Anne (Duncan) Bayne nine children were born, eight sons and one daughter, named as fol- low: Robert, who was an officer in the Fortieth New York Regiment, Vol- unteer Infantry, during the Civil War, is deceased; James, deceased; Mary A., deceased; Samuel died in infancy; Samuel H., subject of this sketch; John died when young; Nathaniel, who was a soldier in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Volunteer Infantry (the Corn Exchange Regiment), is de- ceased ; Joseph died when young, and William, who died when twenty-six years old.

Samuel H. Rayne spent his boyhood in his native city and there at- tended the public schools. When eighteen years old he left home and went to Galena, Illinois; where he clerked for his brother, James, in a grocery store. Later. James Bayne moved to Warren, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, accompanied by the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Bayne of this review was married in 1858, to Mary A. Vandervort, who was born February 8, 1841, in Erie, Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of John and Charlotte Vandervort, of German descent, and came to Illinois in 1854. After his marriage Mr. Bayne located in Warren county, Illinois. On July 6, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Ninety-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was sent with his regiment into Kentucky and while there was taken sick and on that account was honorably discharged at Franklin, Tennessee, on May 26, 1863. He was with the Army of the Cumberland. He returned home after his experience as a soldier and continued to reside in Warren, Illinois, until the spring of 1867, when he moved to Salem, Nebraska, and opened a general merchandise store, engaging in business there successfully for a period of thirty years, building up a large and lucra- tive trade with that town and surrounding country as a result of his sound judgment, perseverance and honest dealings. He was one of the pioneer merchants at Salem. Upon leaving there in 1897 he moved to Falls City, Richardson county, and retired from the active duties of life. For a period of twenty years he was vice-president of the Bank of Salen1.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bayne one child was born, Mrs. Emma Moore, who lives in Falls City, and has two children living, Mrs. G. W. Daggett, of Lin- coln, Nebraska, and Ernest J. Moore, of Little Rock, Arkansas. The latter is a painter and decorator. Mr. Daggett is a motorman on the traction line at Lincoln, but formerly he was agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company at Dawson, Nebraska, which position he held for a num- ber of years. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Daggett, namely : Winnie Gene. Christine, and an infant ..

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Politically, Mr. Bayne is a Republican. He has been a Mason for a period of forty-four years, and has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for a period of forty years. He holds membership with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is a member of Porter Post, No. 48, Grand Army of the Republic, at Salem. He has always been re- garded as a good citizen in every respect and enjoys the friendship of a very wide circle of acquaintances both at Salem and Falls City.

CHARLES H. SCHOCK.

A well-known and highly honored citizen of a past generation in Falls City, Richardson county, was the late Charles H. Schock, a man who led an upright and honorable life and was rated at all times as a good citizen, in all that the term implies. He was born near Bellevue, Ohio, July 19, 1848. He was a son of William and Sarah (Heater) Schock, both natives of Ohio, but of Pennsylvania-German stock. Their family consisted of eight children, named as follow: George W., of Falls City, Nebraska; Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart, of Vermillion, Kansas; Mrs. Adeline Korner, of Falls City, Nebraska; Charles H., of this sketch; Mrs. Amanda Stetler, of Long Beach, California; William A. is engaged in farming in Richardson county; Mrs. George W. Holland lives in Falls City, Nebraska, and Lincoln, who died when sixteen years old.

The Schock family came to Nebraska in 1868 and settled on a farm east of Falls City. There the father prospered, growing wealthy through close application and good management. Charles H. Schock was twenty years of age when the family moved to Richardson county. After working on the home place for five years he began farming for himself, investing in land four and one-half miles southwest of Falls City, owning one hundred and sixty acres of very productive land, which he brought up to a high state of improvement, living there for a period of eleven years. He then moved to Falls City in 1892. He also owned a good farm of one hundred acres near Salem. He continued to reside in Falls City until his death, which occurred on July 5, 1902. He had been very successful as a general farmer.

Politically Mr. Schock was a Republican and was active in party affairs. He attended the Methodist church. Fraternally, he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Royal Highlanders.

Mr. Schock was married on April 12, 1881, to Katie Melhorn, who

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was born April 30, 1857, in Indiana. She is a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Streasner) Melhorn, both natives of Germany, where they spent their earlier years, finally emigrating to America. After living in Indiana for some time they came to Nebraska in 1865, locating in Arago precinct, living on a farm many years near the village of Barada. Their family con- sisted of six children, namely: Sarah, the wife of George A. Schock, of Falls City, Nebraska; Katie, widow of Charles H. Schock of this memoir ; John died when eight years of age; George and Herman were both killed by lightning at the same time; Martin lives in San Diego, California.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schock, namely: Mattie, wife of Mark Tefft, a merchant of Falls City, Nebraska, and they have one child. Kathleen, whose birth occurred on January 12, 1914; Stella is the wife of Glenn McMillan, a druggist of Falls City. Mrs. Tefft is a member of the social circle of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Woman's Club of Falls City.

Mrs. Katie Schock built a beautiful home on Stone street, Falls City, in 1911, where she still resides. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

ELLIS O. LEWIS.

A man of sound business judgment and recognized integrity is Ellis O. Lewis, manager of the Peerless Stock Powder Company of Falls City, Ne- braska. He was born on March 2, 1861, in McHenry county, Illinois. He is the son of John Lewis and his wife, Rebecca Fitz Randolph Lewis, the latter of whom is a direct descendant of Robert Fitz Randolph, who served as a private minute-man in the Middlesex New Jersey militia during the Revolutionary War. Robert Fitz Randolph also served for a time in a Pennsylvania regiment commanded by Col. William Cook and was present at the battle of Germantown.

John Lewis and his wife were both born near Meadville, Pennsylvania, and were married in Illinois in 1858. In 1863 the family moved from Illinois to Newton, Iowa, and in 1869 moved to Richardson county, Nebraska, and in October of that year settled in Ohio township, six miles northwest of Falls City. He was among the early pioneers and, by hard work and per- severance he developed a farm from the wilderness and after many hard- ships, established a comfortable home for his family. Ellis O. Lewis thus grew to manhood amid primitive conditions, sharing the burdens of life on

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the Western frontier. He found plenty of hard work to do in helping to establish the family home in the new country. He remembers helping to raise corn and shelling it, then hauling it to St. Stephens, where he sold it for thirteen cents per bushel. He also tells of building "breaks" to catch the grasshoppers during the years of that plague and fattening pigs on the insects. He helped to fatten hogs which his father sold for three and one- half cents per pound.

Mr. Lewis, of this sketch, studied awhile under D. D. Houtz, one of the first teachers in Richardson county, then attended the high school at Falls City, taking a three years' course, graduating in 1880, being thus a member of the first graduating class there. In the fall of that year he entered Nebraska State University, taking the course in civil engineering and grad- uating in 1884. He became a member of the first fraternity that graduated from that institution-the Phi Delta Theta.

Thus exceptionally well equipped for life's duties in those early days in this section of the West, Mr. Lewis began teaching, assuming the duties of principal of the Verdon schools, also taught at Rulo, Richardson county, and at Reserve, Kansas, giving eminent satisfaction as an educator. He was elected clerk of Richardson county in 1890 and, discharging his duties in an able manner he was re-elected in 1892, serving four years. Upon leaving the office in 1894 he turned his attention to the real estate business which he followed with success until 1899, in which year he was appointed postmaster at Falls City by President William McKinley. He discharged his duties in a manner highly acceptable to the people and the authorities until 1904, then turned his attention to the manufacture of what has since become known as one of the most reliable stock powders and stock dips for live stock on the market. The Peerless Stock Powder Company was established in 1904 by Falls City people and Mr. Lewis purchased an interest in the business in January, 1904, and took over the management. He at once began remodeling the plant, making a number of changes to better the output, inventing a better formula. By careful management and wise discrimination, close application and honest dealings with his customers he has increased the busi- ness from year to year until it has long since found a ready market over a large territory and its prestige has been growing daily. The annual output at this writing, in 1917, will reach nearly one million pounds. Four of the leading live stock states of the Union are covered largely by the products of this company and used by stock feeders. Large quantities are consigned each week to various points in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. The

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business is increasing materially each year. Two expert employees in the manufacture of dip and stock powder are used in the factory all of the time and others when the business requires it. This company also employs from six to ten men as traveling salesmen on the road. Associated with Mr. Lewis in the business are J. H. Miles, A. J. Weaves, J. H. Morehead and Jacob Marmet.

In December, 1883, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Eva E. Miller, of Lincoln, Nebraska, she being at that time a student at the State Univer- sity with Mr. Lewis. She is the daughter of Elder Jason G. Miller, a prom- inent pioneer of Nebraska. and who was one of the men who helped lay out the state capitol at Lincoln.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis resulted in the birth of four children, namely ; Theron E .. who lives in the city of Omaha and who is a member of Company D, Fourth Nebraska Regiment, Volunteer Infantry; he saw service on the Mexican border in 1916 and is an electrician by trade. Ralph, the second son, is an employee of the Peerless Stock Powder Company as factory foreman. Ruth, the only daughter, is a graduate of the Falls City high school. She has also pursued a four years' course in the University Conservatory of Music at Lincoln, Nebraska. 'She is an accomplished musi- cian and a successful music teacher. Ruth Lewis now has the data and will join the Daughters of the American Revolution. Don, the youngest of the children, is an employee of the Peerless Stock Powder Company and is an expert in the manufacture of stock dip, insecticides and stock remedies used extensively by farmers in preserving their stock and making them more thrifty.

Mr. Lewis has long been a potent factor in local public affairs. He is. a Republican, a member of the progressive wing of that party. He belonged to the state central committee in 1896, 1912 and 1916. He was assistant secretary of the state Senate in 1885, 1887 and 1889. . While a member of the above named committee he served on the executive committee. He filled these responsible positions in a manner that reflected much credit upon him- self and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He took a leading part in making Falls City a dry town, and campaigned Richardson county during the fight between the wets and drys in 1916; in fact, he helped to. make the state of Nebraska dry. He has long been a relentless foe of the liquor traffic and has done a most commendable work for prohibition. Fra- ternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and was a dele- gate to the national camp of. this order .in Toledo, Ohio, 1914; he also be- longs to the Royal Highlanders. He attends the Presbyterian church.

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Mr. Lewis is a born leader of men: he is aggressive, educated. well informed on all important topics of the world, familiar with the world's best literature; he is a man of keen business acumen and executive ability, and he takes an abiding interest in the general progress of his city and community, and his honesty and probity of character have never been ques- tioned.

JAMES S. HILLYARD.

One of the most widely and favorably known manufacturing firms of Falls City, Richardson county, is that of Hillyard & Son. Mr. Hillyard, of this review, was born on August 1. 1865, in Caldwell county, Kentucky. He is a son of Thomas L. and Nancy ( Hart) Hillyard, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of South Carolina. William L. Hillyard, the paternal grandfather of the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch, was born and reared in Kentucky and was a son of Alexander Hillyard, a native of Virginia and an early pioneer settler of Kentucky, where he settled in the year 1816 on a large Revolutionary land grant, which was handed down to his children. William L. Hillyard was a strong Union sympathizer and did not believe in slavery on any. terms. Thomas. L. Hillyard was born August 27, 1840, and died March 14. 1913. His wife, Nancy Hart, was born in 1841 and died in 1868, leaving two children, James S. of this sketch; and Mrs. Belle McGough, of Caldwell county, Kentucky, in which county the father of these children lived and died, spending his active life in agricul- tural pursuits.

James S. Hillyard grew to manhood in his native county and was edu- cated in the public schools. He left home in 1881, making his own living i" Kentucky for three years. In 1884 he came to Phillips county, Kansas, and in 1886 located in Gage county, Nebraska, where he followed farming for five years. In 1891 he moved to Pawnee county, this state, where he engaged in farming three years. In September, 1895, he located in Falls City, where he began working at the carpenter's trade which he followed for four years then began contracting on his own account, purchasing the Johnson factory, which he has greatly improved, including the installation of modern machin- ery. It is located at 1619 Chase street. He has admitted his son, Fred, and they are engaged successfully in the manufacture of window frames, door frames, screen frames and all work for buildings, being general manufac- turers of wood work. The factory was established in 1913. They turn out

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first-class work in all lines, and employ a number of highly-skilled workmen. Mr. Hillyard followed contracting for a period of fourteen years, erecting dwellings, barns and other buildings throughout Richardson county, including many of the largest and most modern buildings in this part of the state. Some of the leading citizens of the county gave him the contracts for their resi- dences, including that of John Towle, just west of Falls City. In one year he built two large residences for W. R. Holt and one each for A. J. Spofford, John Ross. T. T. Ross and T. J. Whitaker.

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 92

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