History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 99

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

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Joel W. Deweese was but an infant, about six months of age, when his parents moved from Illinois to Iowa and he grew to manhood on a farm in Marion county, that state, receiving his early schooling in the schools at P'ella, the neighboring village, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. On August 15, 1862, he then being under nineteen years of age, he enlisted for service as a member of Company G, Twenty- third Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as a cor- poral in that command on August 22 following. . On December 19, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and continued to serve with that command until the close of the war, being mustered out at Harrisburg

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Texas, July 26, 1865. During this period of military activity, Mr. Deweese participated in the siege of Vicksburg and went thence down the Mississippi to New Orleans. thence to Berwick, Louisiana, thence into Texas; then on with the Red River expedition, later taking part in the battle of Spanish Fort and in the capture of Mobile, besides taking part in numerous other engagements and skirmishes.

Upon the completion of his military service, Joel W. Deweese returned home and after finishing his work in the Iowa College, entered the Law College at Iowa City and was in due time graduated from the same. After his marriage in 1869 to Rebecca Ryan, a sister of Judge Robert Ryan, of Iowa, also a veteran of the Civil War, he established his home at Prairie City, Iowa, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until 1879, when he came to this state and located at Lincoln, engaging in prac- tice in that city as a member of the law firm of Marquette, Deweese & Hall, attorneys for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, and upon the death of Mr. Marquette became head of the firm. Mr. Hall pres- ently withdrew to engage in private practice and Mr. Deweese then asso- ciated with himself in practice Frank Elmer Bishop. In the meantime Fred Deweese, Mr. Deweese's younger son, had been completing his law studies and upon being admitted to practice became associated with his father in the Lincoln office. During Joel W. Deweese's residence in Iowa he had served one term as a member of the Iowa state Legislature and upon coming to this state also took an interested part in political affairs, though never again a seeker after public office. He occupied a high place at the bar of this state and spent his last days in practice at Lincoln, his death occurring there on September 2, 1907. His widow, who was born in the state of New York on December 16, 1846, survived him less than two years, her death occurring on March 19, 1909. They were the parents of four children, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Wilford Deweese, of Stamford, this state, and Fred Deweese, a well-known land- owner of Grant precinct, this county, and a sister, Mrs. Julia Lundin, of Seattle, Washington.

During the time he was engaged in the practice of law in association with his father at Lincoln, Fred Deweese suffered a mild physical break- down and believing the free, open-air life of the farm would prove beneficial to his health came down into Richardson county, where his grandfather had lived in pioneer days, and he and his brother and their sister Lena bought a tract of land in the Dawson neighborhood, in the precinct of Grant. In

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1910, the year after the death of her mother, Miss Lena Deweese closed her home in Lincoln and joined her brothers in this county. She straight- way fell in love with the life of the farm and decided to remain here per- manently and to that end made her arrangements accordingly. She is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres in the precinct of Grant and has done much to beautify and improve the place. Not long ago she caused to be erected there a new seven-room house of modern construction and is very pleasantly and comfortably situated. Miss Deweese completed her school- ing in Illinois College at Jacksonville, Illinois, and at the Nebraska State University and has traveled extensively. During her college days she was an active member of the Delta Gamma. Sorority and continues to retain an earnest interest in the affairs of that organization of college women. She is a member of the Christian church and a member of the local Kensington Club, and takes a warm interest in church and club work and in the general religious, social and cultural activities of the community in which she lives, helpful in many ways in promoting such agencies as are designed to advance the common welfare thereabout.

NAPOLEON DeMERS.

The business of fruit growing is both a profitable and pleasant one to those who like the outdoors and are willing to be vigilant and persevering. One of the best-known horticulturists of Richardson county is Napoleon De Mers of near Falls City. He was born in Quebec, Canada, October 28. 1860, and is a son of Frank and Edwidge ( Lavigne) DeMers. The father was a native of Canada, where he grew up and was married, removing to Fall River, Massachusetts, about 1872. He was a baker by trade and there conducted a large bakery, keeping five or six delivery . wagons. He re- turned to Canada about 1878 for the purpose of schooling his children. He later came to Jefferson county, South Dakota, where his death occurred about 1903, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His wife also was a native of Canada ; her death occurring in Minneapolis, Minnesota, about 1908, at the age of sixty-six. Twelve children were born to Frank DeMers and wife, nine of whom grew to maturity, and five of them are living at this writing, namely: Philip, a homesteader in Montana; Misael, who lives in Canada : Raphael, in North Dakota ; Mrs. Virginia Garon, in Big Lake. Minnesota, and Napoleon, of this sketch.

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Napoleon DeMers received his education in the parochial schools and the Brotherhood College, with his brother, Raphael. He learned the bar- ber's trade at St. Hyacinthe. Canada, where he worked two years, then went to Richmond, Canada, where he assisted his father in his bakery for three years. His parents then moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he worked at the barber trade awhile, later owned a shop at Elk Point, South Dakota. but returned to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1876, where he remained until 1880, when he sold his shop there and came to Falls City, Nebraska, and started a barber shop, which he conducted with his usual success until 1908, when he turned his attention exclusively to his farm, to which he had moved in 1904. but had continued operating his shop. He owns thirty-three acres in Falls City precinct. eight acres being in orchard and the balance in alfalfa and general farm crops. He also keeps a large number of hives of bees. He set out all his trees and has a fine assortment, his excellent apples finding a very ready market owing to their superior quality. He also deals in poultry, specializing in the Rhode Island Red single-comb chickens and he has built up quite a demand for them. He has made many important im- provements on his place, costing in all about five thousand dollars. Noth- ing but cornstalks could be seen on the land when he purchased it in 1900. He has a comfortable modern home and numerous convenient outbuildings. He has been a diligent student of government bulletins and of the best books by experts on orcharding, poultry raising and bee culture and has therefore become well informed in all these lines, making a pronounced success of each.

Mr. DeMers was married on April 28, 1886, to Emma Downs, who was born January 17, 1860, at Glenwood, Iowa. She is a daughter of Ben- jamin S. and Catherine (Goben) Downs, natives of Virginia. where they spent their earlier years. After living in Iowa for some time they came to Richardson county, Nebraska, in the early days and here became very comfortably established through their industry. Benjamin S. Downs was born in 1818, was reared on a farm in Virginia, went, when a young man. to Ohio, where he was married, at the town of Mt. Vernon. He subse- quently brought his family to Mills county, Iowa, where he engaged in the milling business. In 1871 he moved to Falls City, Nebraska, and leased the Falls mills, which are no longer in operation. He continued in the flour- milling business until his death, which occurred in 1877. His wife was born in the Old Dominion in 1829 and her death occurred in 1913.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon DeMers, named as follows: Grace, who was graduated from the State Normal at Peru.

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Nebraska, after which she taught school for some time in Humboldt, Rich- ardson county, and later in Fresno, California ; she is now the wife of H. C. James and they live in Modesto, California; Edith, the second child, was graduated from Falls City high school and the Peru State Normal, later teaching school for some time in Falls City and Richardson county, but is now living at home; Mary, third child in order of birth, was graduated front the Falls City high school after which she followed teaching until her mar- riage to Guy Stump, a farmer of near Falls City. Ruth, youngest of the family, also received a good education and is now engaged in teaching in district school No. 81.

Politically, Mr. DeMers is a Republican. He has long taken an active interest in public affairs, and while living in Falls City was a member of the city council. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Royal Highlanders, being a charter member of the last named lodge in Falls City. He holds membership in the Catholic church, in the faith of which he was reared.

BARNEY MULLEN.

Barney Mullen, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of the northern part of Richardson county, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the real pioneers of this county, is a native of the old Buckeye state, born in the vicinity of Urbana, in Champaign county, Ohio, December 22, 1836, a son of John and Sarah L. Mullen, natives of Penn- sylvania, and the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, and the only present survivor, the others having been James, who died in California, and Mrs. Maggie Higgins, also de- ceased.

Bereft of his parents by death in his early childhood, Barney Mullen was taken in charge by a neighbor, Mr. Jones, and at the early age of ten years practically began to take care of himself, working on a farm. He received a common-school education in Ohio and in 1856, when about twenty years of age. went to Illinois, where he began working on a farm for a farmer of the name of Beggs, in the immediate vicinity of Ashland, in Cass county, that state. In 1860, while working there, Mr. Mullen purchased from Billy Goodpasture, who had been out here in the then Territory of Nebraska, the pre-emption right to a quarter of a section of land in Porter

BARNEY MULLEN.

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precinct, this county, and he came out here and entered upon possession of the same. A log cabin had been erected on the place, the farm being about six miles west of the present village of Stella, and he established his quarters there and started in to break the land and improve his place, farming with a team of oxen. When the Civil War broke out Mr. Mullen returned to Illi- nois and at Virginia, in Cass county, that state, enlisted on September 3, 1861, as a private in Company C, Sixth Illinois Cavalry, and with that com- mand served until some time after the close of the war, receiving his dis- charge at Nashville, Tennessee, December 16, 1865. During this period of service Mr. Mullen was a participant in some of the most strenuous engage- ments of the war, including the battle of Nashville, the siege of Ft. Hudson. at the mouth of the Red river, and was a participant in the expedition from LaGrange, Tennessee, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and in numerous other engagements and skirmishes, the Sixth Illinois Cavalry ever giving a good account of itself.

Upon the completion of his military service Barney Mullen returned to his farm in this county and resumed here the pursuits of peace, presently getting his place under cultivation and in such a state of general improve- ment that he considered it fitting to ask someone to share the place with him and in December, 1868, he was married and established his permanent home. It was not long until Mr. Mullen found himself prospering and as he prospered he added to his holdings until now he is the owner of ten hundred and eighty acres of excellent land including a half section over in the neighboring county of Pawnee. From the very beginning of his opera- tions here Mr. Mullen gave considerable attention to the raising of cattle and hogs and has for many years done a large business in live stock. As a contrast between conditions in the early days of his stock raising and those that obtain today, he recalls that in his early days out here on the plains he sold corn for ten cents a bushel and hogs for three dollars a hundred at · the then nearest market, Brownville, and thought he was getting a fair price for his products. On April 11, 1917, he sold a carload of hogs on the St. Joseph market for sixteen dollars and ten cents a hundred. Mr. Mullen is a Republican and has served his community in a public capacity as a school director and in other minor local offices. He is a Mason of more than forty years standing, having been a charter member of the local lodge of the AAncient Free and Accepted Masons at Humboldt, and is a charter member of the Nebraska Masonic Veterans' Association at Omaha. He helped to organize the old Farmers and Merchants Bank of Humboldt and was a

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member of the board of directors of the same until it ceased to do business.

On December 8, 1868, Barney Mullen was united in marriage to Susan M. Hays, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1847, and who was but ten years of age when her parents, George L. and Julia ( Ambrose) Hays, also natives of Pennsylvania, came to the then Territory of Nebraska from Taylor county, Iowa, and settled on a pioneer farm one mile south of the present village of Stella, among the very earliest settlers of the northern part of Richardson county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, carnest pioneers and useful and influential resi- dents of that section. To Mr. and Mrs. Mullen three children have been born, James L., who is now engaged in the lumber business at Shreveport, Louisiana; Frank, deceased, and Benjamin G., who is looking after the management of the old home place.

AUSTIN GRANT SHUBERT.

Austin Grant Shubert, a well-known dealer in real estate, insurance and farm loans and the owner of a fine stock farm northeast of that city, is a native son of Nebraska and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm just over the line in Nemaha county, in the immediate vicinity of the present village of Shubert, April 12, 1879, and last-born of the seven living children of Henry W. and Mary E. (Griffin) Shubert, pioneers of that section and further and fitting mention of whom is made in a memorial sketch relating to the late Henry W. Shubert, presented else- where in this volume, wherein is set out at some length something of the genealogy of the Shuberts and of the history of that prominent pioneer family in this part of Nebraska. Henry W. Shubert, a Kentuckian, canie to Neb- raska from Illinois in 1865 and settled in the neighborhood of what is now the thriving village of Shubert, that village having been established on his land when the railroad was built through that section. He became an exten- sive landowner in that section and as a member of the Lincoln Land . Com- pany took a prominent part in the early development of this part of the state.

Reared at Shubert, Austin G. Shubert grew to manhood well trained in the difficult vocation of farming, fruit growing and stock raising and to the latter phase of farming gave his close attention from the days of his youth. .Austin Grant Shubert was deprived of a complete education on account of poor eyesight when a boy. At the age of fifteen years he accompanied his

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASK.A.

father on several extensive tours of the United States, the experience of which he treasures to this day. Among these is six months spent in the Southern states, mostly in southern Arkansas; also one year spent in Cali- fornia. These travels were made at the age when he, to use his own expression, was full of "pep". He had a great many experiences which at that time were amusing, but in later years found to be useful in his dealings with the world at large. A practical knowledge taught by experience gained by working at odd jobs in all classes of employment and business, has been of great assistance to him in huis negotiations with different classes. He returned with his father to Nemaha, Nebraska, about 1895 and being the eldest of two boys, he was then the main assistance to his father in develop- ing the fruit business. He was the operator of the first spraying done and the first barreling and packing of apples in Nebraska, under the supervision of his father.

In the planting of the extensive orchards by H. W. Shubert, Austin G. Shubert took a very active part from the beginning. At that time he was too young to do much manual labor, but was just large enough to drive a team and haul the trees from the nursery. These trips were made daily during the planting season, to what was regarded at that time as a prominent nursery located eight miles away. This sketch is given to show that Austin G. Slmbert is certainly a pioneer fruit man of Nebraska.

Later. Mr. Shubert gradually developed a fine stock farm, making a specialty of registered Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He has a well-improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, five miles northeast of Falls City and though now giving the greater part of his attention to the extensive business he has developed in the city, continues to give his personal attention to his live-stock interests and still keeps fifteen or twenty of the finest brood sows in the state of Nebraska. A recent newspaper story relat- ing to Mr. Shubert, and which is richly indicative of his business activity and hustling methods, fits in very aptly in this connection, as follows: "Mr. Shubert rises early and goes to his farm and back before Falls City is ready for business. For instance, a few days ago, it is learned that this man went out to his farm and got back and made a trade with a man from out of town before the business places were ready to do business. His quick decision and short interviews win men of decision and business acumen. He is a minute man. He can tell you immediately what is what. There is nothing in him of the long-drawn-out drone of the scheming, tricky trader. He is open and aboveboard with any business proposition that would he approved by any good business man in the county. He has worked up-stream and this has

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developed strength and energy. He seems not to be one of the cheap kind of men that occasionally brag about their business success. Although he has a record of selling more farms than any other Falls City real-estate agent, he never advertises it. Some men are always anxious to let the newspapers known their business of selling a farm ; this man never." It was on December 1, 1915, that Mr. Shubert bought out a somewhat run-down real-estate busi- ness at Falls City and he has had phenomenal success in that line, in con- nection with which he also does an extensive business in insurance and farm loans, and is regarded as one of the real "live wires" in local business circles.

On December 15, 1901, Austin G. Shubert was united in marriage to Grace P. Couer, who also was born in Nemaha county, daughter of Lucian Couer and wife, pioneers of that county, and to this union two children have been born, Irma May and Moras Lyndle. Mr. and Mrs. Shubert are mem- ber's of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in church work and in the general good works of the community. Mr. Shubert is a Republican and for eleven years during his residence on the farm was committeeman for the precinct of East Muddy. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and both he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah, and he also is affiliated with the local lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights and Ladies of Security, in the affairs of all of which organ- izations he takes a warm interest.

FRANK A. HEBENSTREIT.

Frank A. Hebenstreit, of the law firm of Phillips & Hebenstreit at Falls City and one of the best-known and most energetic young lawyers in Richardson county, is a native of Wisconsin, but has been a resident of Nebraska ever since he finished his college work and entered upon the practice of his profession, having been located at Omaha for some time previous to taking up his residence in Falls City. He was born at Shulls- burg, Wisconsin, April 12, 1891, son of Andrew and Catherine (McCarten) Hebenstreit, the former of whom was born at that same place and the latter at Kendall, Wisconsin, and who are still making their home at Shullsburg.

Andrew Hebenstreit was born in 1863, a son of Vitus Hebenstreit and wife, who came to this country from Prussia in 1862 and settled in Shulls- burg, Wisconsin, where Vitus Hebenstreit became employed in the lead

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mines, later becoming engaged in the barber business, and where he and his wife reared their family and spent the rest of their lives. Andrew Hebenstreit grew to manhood there and for a time followed his father's vocation as a barber, but later became engaged in the banking business and was actively connected with the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Shulls- burg until his retirement from active business, though he still continues a member of the board of directors of that bank. He married Catherine McCarten, who was born at Kendall, Wisconsin, in 1869, and who also is still living, and to that union were born three children, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, an elder, Anton Hebenstreit, a civil engineer, now residing at Toledo, Iowa, and a younger brother, Austin, now a med- ical student at Creighton University.

Upon completing the course in the public schools of his native town, Shullsburg, Frank A. Hebenstreit, in 1910, entered the University of Wis- consin and after a two-years' course there entered the law department of Creighton University in 1912 and was graduated from that institution in 1915, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In that same year he opened an office for the practice of his profession at Omaha and was there thus engaged for eight months, or until January 1, 1916, when he formed his present partnership with Clifford F. Phillips and has since been engaged in practice at Falls City, under the firm style of Phillips & Hebenstreit, which firm has an excellent and rapidly growing practice, both young men having created a distinctly favorable impression upon the community during the comparatively short time they have resided here. Mr. Hebenstreit is a Democrat and since taking up his residence in Falls City has given his thoughtful attention to local civic affairs. During the campaign of 1916 he served as the chairman of the Falls City Wilson Club and in that con- nection did some excellent work in behalf of his party. He and his wife are earnest members of the Catholic church and take an interested part in parish affairs, as well as in the general social and cultural activities of their home town. Mr. Hebenstreit is affiliated with the local council of the Knights of Columbus, with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, with the Knights and Ladies of Security and college- fraternity, Delta Theta Phi, and in the affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest.

On February 1, 1917, at Omaha, Frank A. Hebenstreit was united in marriage to Irene Helen O'Neill, daughter of John and Margaret O'Neill, of that city. Concerning that happy nuptial event the Omaha Bee had the following to say: "The marriage of Miss Irene O'Neill, daughter of Mr.

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and Mrs. John ()'Neill. to Mr. F. A. Hebenstreit, of Falls City, Nebraska, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hebenstreit, of Shullsburg, Wisconsin, was solemnized on Thursday morning at seven o'clock at Sacred Heart church, the Rev. Father Judge officiating. Miss Margaret O'Neill. sister of the bride, was maid of honor, and the groom's brother, Mr. Austin Hebenstreit, of Shullsburg, Wisconsin, acted as best man. The out-of-town guests were as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hebenstreit and Mr. Austin Heben- streit, of Shullsburg, Wisconsin; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Dalton and daugh- ters, Margaret and Mary, of Washington, Nebraska, and Mr. T. A. Fahey, of Fremont, Nebraska. The couple left for a honeymoon trip and will be at home after March I at Falls City, Nebraska."

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 99

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